New International Version NIV
Weymouth New Testament WNT
1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?
1
What special privilege, then, has a Jew? Or what benefit is to be derived from circumcision?
2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
2
The privilege is great from every point of view. First of all, because the Jews were entrusted with God's truth.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?
3
For what if some Jews have proved unfaithful? Shall their faithlessness render God's faithfulness worthless?
4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
4
No, indeed; let us hold God to be true, though every man should prove to be false. As it stands written, "That Thou mayest be shown to be just in the sentence Thou pronouncest, and gain Thy cause when Thou contendest."
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)
5
But if our unrighteousness sets God's righteousness in a clearer light, what shall we say? (Is God unrighteous--I speak in our everyday language-- when He inflicts punishment?
6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?
6
No indeed; for in that case how shall He judge all mankind?)
7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?”
7
If, for instance, a falsehood of mine has made God's truthfulness more conspicuous, redounding to His glory, why am I judged all the same as a sinner?
8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
8
And why should we not say--for so they wickedly misrepresent us, and so some charge us with arguing--"Let us do evil that good may come"? The condemnation of those who would so argue is just.
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.
9
What then? Are we Jews more highly estimated than they? Not in the least; for we have already charged all Jews and Gentiles alike with being in thraldom to sin.
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;
10
Thus it stands written, "There is not one righteous man.
11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
11
There is not one who is really wise, nor one who is a diligent seeker after God.
12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
12
All have turned aside from the right path; they have every one of them become corrupt. There is no one who does what is right--no, not so much as one."
13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
13
"Their throats resemble an opened grave; with their tongues they have been talking deceitfully." "The venom of vipers lies hidden behind their lips."
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
14
"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
15
"Their feet move swiftly to shed blood.
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
16
Ruin and misery mark their path;
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”
17
and the way to peace they have not known."
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
18
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
19
But it cannot be denied that all that the Law says is addressed to those who are living under the Law, in order that every mouth may be stopped, and that the whole world may await sentence from God.
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
20
For on the ground of obedience to Law no man living will be declared righteous before Him. Law simply brings a sure knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
21
But now a righteousness coming from God has been brought to light apart from any Law, both Law and Prophets bearing witness to it--
22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
22
a righteousness coming from God, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ and extends to all who believe. No distinction is made;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
23
for all alike have sinned, and all consciously come short of the glory of God,
24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
24
gaining acquittal from guilt by His free unpurchased grace through the deliverance which is found in Christ Jesus.
25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
25
He it is whom God put forward as a Mercy-seat, rendered efficacious through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness-- because of the passing over, in God's forbearance, of the sins previously committed--
26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
26
with a view to demonstrating, at the present time, His righteousness, that He may be shown to be righteous Himself, and the giver of righteousness to those who believe in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.
27
Where then is there room for your boasting? It is for ever shut out. On what principle? On the ground of merit? No, but on the ground of faith.
28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
28
For we maintain that it is as the result of faith that a man is held to be righteous, apart from actions done in obedience to Law.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
29
Is God simply the God of the Jews, and not of the Gentiles also? He is certainly the God of the Gentiles also,
30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
30
unless you can deny that it is one and the same God who will pronounce the circumcised to be acquitted on the ground of faith, and the uncircumcised to be acquitted through the same faith.
31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
31
Do we then by means of this faith abolish the Law? No, indeed; we give the Law a firmer footing.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Weymouth New Testament is in the public domain.