Romans 3 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

All the World Guilty

3 Then what [a]advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First, that (A)they were entrusted with the (B)actual words of God. 3 What then? If (C)some [b]did not believe, their [c]unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 [d](D)Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found (E)a liar, as it is written:

“(F)So that You are justified in Your words,
And prevail [e]when You are judged.”

5 But if our unrighteousness [f](G)demonstrates the righteousness of God, (H)what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? ((I)I am speaking from a human viewpoint.) 6 (J)Far from it! For otherwise, how will (K)God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie (L)the truth of God abounded to His glory, (M)why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say (just as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “(N)Let’s do evil that good may come of it”? [g]Their condemnation is deserved.

9 What then? [h](O)Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both (P)Jews and (Q)Greeks are (R)all under sin; 10 as it is written:

“(S)There is no righteous person, not even one;
11 There is no one who understands,
There is no one who seeks out God;
12 They have all turned aside, together they have become [i]corrupt;
There is no one who does good,
There is not even one.”
13 “(T)Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“(U)The venom of [j]asps is under their lips”;
14 “(V)Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;
15 “(W)Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 And they have not known the way of peace.”
18 “(X)There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the (Y)Law says, it speaks to (Z)those who are [k]under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and (AA)all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because (AB)by the works [l]of the Law [m]none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for [n](AC)through the Law comes [o]knowledge of sin.

Justification by Faith

21 But now apart [p]from the Law (AD)the righteousness of God has been revealed, being (AE)witnessed by the [q]Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the (AF)righteousness of God through (AG)faith (AH)in Jesus Christ for (AI)all those [r]who believe; for (AJ)there is no distinction, 23 for all [s](AK)have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift (AL)by His grace through (AM)the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as (AN)a [t]propitiation [u](AO)in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, [v]because in God’s merciful (AP)restraint He (AQ)let the sins previously committed go unpunished; 26 for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who [w]has faith in Jesus.

27 Where then is (AR)boasting? It has been excluded. By (AS)what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 [x]For (AT)we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works [y]of the Law. 29 Or (AU)is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed (AV)God (AW)who will justify the [z]circumcised [aa]by faith and the [ab]uncircumcised through faith (AX)is one.

31 Do we then nullify [ac]the Law through faith? (AY)Far from it! On the contrary, we (AZ)establish the Law.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:1 Lit is the advantage of the Jew
  2. Romans 3:3 Or were unfaithful
  3. Romans 3:3 Or unfaithfulness
  4. Romans 3:4 Lit May it never happen! And so throughout the ch
  5. Romans 3:4 Or in Your judging
  6. Romans 3:5 I.e., by requiring His judgment
  7. Romans 3:8 Lit Whose
  8. Romans 3:9 Or Are we worse
  9. Romans 3:12 Or depraved
  10. Romans 3:13 I.e., venomous snakes
  11. Romans 3:19 Lit in
  12. Romans 3:20 Or of law
  13. Romans 3:20 Lit no flesh
  14. Romans 3:20 Or through law
  15. Romans 3:20 Or recognition
  16. Romans 3:21 Or from law
  17. Romans 3:21 I.e., the Old Testament
  18. Romans 3:22 Or who believe. For there is
  19. Romans 3:23 Or sinned
  20. Romans 3:25 I.e., a means of reconciliation between God and mankind by paying the penalty for sin
  21. Romans 3:25 Or by
  22. Romans 3:25 Lit because of the passing over of the sins previously committed, in the restraint of God
  23. Romans 3:26 Lit is of the faith of Jesus
  24. Romans 3:28 One early ms Therefore
  25. Romans 3:28 Or of law
  26. Romans 3:30 Lit circumcision
  27. Romans 3:30 Lit out of
  28. Romans 3:30 Lit uncircumcision
  29. Romans 3:31 Or law

Cross references

  1. Romans 3:2 : Deut 4:8; Ps 147:19; Rom 9:4
  2. Romans 3:2 : Acts 7:38
  3. Romans 3:3 : Rom 10:16; Heb 4:2
  4. Romans 3:4 : Luke 20:16; Rom 3:6, 31
  5. Romans 3:4 : Ps 116:11; Rom 3:7
  6. Romans 3:4 : Ps 51:4
  7. Romans 3:5 : Rom 5:8; 2 Cor 6:4; 7:11
  8. Romans 3:5 : Rom 4:1; 7:7; 8:31; 9:14, 30
  9. Romans 3:5 : Rom 6:19; 1 Cor 9:8; 15:32; Gal 3:15
  10. Romans 3:6 : Luke 20:16; Rom 3:4, 31
  11. Romans 3:6 : Rom 2:16
  12. Romans 3:7 : Rom 3:4
  13. Romans 3:7 : Rom 9:19
  14. Romans 3:8 : Rom 6:1
  15. Romans 3:9 : Rom 3:1
  16. Romans 3:9 : Rom 2:1-29
  17. Romans 3:9 : Rom 1:18-32
  18. Romans 3:9 : Rom 3:19, 23; 11:32; Gal 3:22
  19. Romans 3:10 : Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3
  20. Romans 3:13 : Ps 5:9
  21. Romans 3:13 : Ps 140:3
  22. Romans 3:14 : Ps 10:7
  23. Romans 3:15 : Is 59:7f
  24. Romans 3:18 : Ps 36:1
  25. Romans 3:19 : John 10:34
  26. Romans 3:19 : Rom 2:12
  27. Romans 3:19 : Rom 3:9
  28. Romans 3:20 : Ps 143:2; Acts 13:39; Gal 2:16
  29. Romans 3:20 : Rom 4:15; 5:13, 20; 7:7
  30. Romans 3:21 : Is 46:13; 51:5f; Rom 1:17; 9:30
  31. Romans 3:21 : Acts 10:43; Rom 1:2
  32. Romans 3:22 : Rom 1:17; 9:30
  33. Romans 3:22 : Rom 4:5
  34. Romans 3:22 : Acts 3:16; Gal 2:16, 20; 3:22; Eph 3:12
  35. Romans 3:22 : Rom 4:11, 16; 10:4
  36. Romans 3:22 : Rom 10:12; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11
  37. Romans 3:23 : Rom 3:9
  38. Romans 3:24 : Rom 4:4f, 16; Eph 2:8
  39. Romans 3:24 : 1 Cor 1:30; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 9:15
  40. Romans 3:25 : 1 John 2:2; 4:10
  41. Romans 3:25 : 1 Cor 5:7; Heb 9:14, 28; 1 Pet 1:19; Rev 1:5
  42. Romans 3:25 : Rom 2:4
  43. Romans 3:25 : Acts 14:16; 17:30
  44. Romans 3:27 : Rom 2:17, 23; 4:2; 1 Cor 1:29ff
  45. Romans 3:27 : Rom 9:31
  46. Romans 3:28 : Acts 13:39; Rom 3:20, 21; Eph 2:9; James 2:20, 24, 26
  47. Romans 3:29 : Acts 10:34f; Rom 9:24; 10:12; 15:9; Gal 3:28; Eph 2:11-19
  48. Romans 3:30 : Rom 10:12; Gal 3:20
  49. Romans 3:30 : Rom 3:22; 4:11f, 16; Gal 3:8
  50. Romans 3:30 : Deut 6:4
  51. Romans 3:31 : Luke 20:16; Rom 3:4
  52. Romans 3:31 : Matt 5:17; Rom 3:4, 6; 8:4

You Might Also Like:

Romans 3 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

3 What, then, [is] the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of the circumcision? 2 much in every way; for first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God; 3 for what, if certain were faithless? shall their faithlessness the faithfulness of god make useless? 4 let it not be! and...
Read More

Romans 3 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

3 What then is more to a Jew, or what profit of circumcision? 2 Much by all wise [Much by all manner]; first, for the speakings of God were betaken to them. 3 And what if some of them believed not? Whether the unbelief of them hath voided the faith of God? 4 God forbid [Far be it]. For God is soo...
Read More

Romans 3 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

3 Then what does a Jew have that others do not have? Or what good is it if a person has been circumcised? 2 It is much better in every way. First, God's law was given to the Jews. 3 But some Jews did not keep his law. Does that mean that God cannot be trusted? 4 No, it does not mean that. God must b...
Read More

Romans 3 - World English Bible (WEB)

3 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God. 3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 May it never be! Yes, let ...
Read More

Romans 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

When God’s people—or people who claim to be God’s people—are hypocrites, then God is the one who gets the bad name. How often do we say one thing and do another? How often have we set a standard for others only to break it ourselves? The saying is true: we practice every day what we believe; all the...
Read More

Romans 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

No One Is Acceptable3 Then what is the advantage of being Jewish? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. First of all, they were entrusted with the sayings of God. 3 So what if some did not trust? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 May it never be! Let Go...
Read More

Romans 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every man be...
Read More

Romans 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every man be...
Read More

Romans 3 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

3 What, then, is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Firstly, because indeed the oracles of God were entrusted to them. 3 For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 Absolutely not! Indeed, let God ...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

God’s Determined Faithfulness3 What advantage, then, does the Jew possess? What, indeed, is the point of circumcision? 2 A great deal, in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with God’s oracles. 3 What follows from that? If some of them were unfaithful to their commission, does their ...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much, in every way. For in the first place the Jews[a] were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Although everyone is a...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much, in every way. For in the first place, the Jews[a] were entrusted with the oracles of God.(A)3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?(B)4 By no means! Although every human...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Paul shows what preferment the Jews have, and that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin, and are justified only by the grace of God in Christ. 3 What preferment, then, has the Jew? Or what advantage from circumcision? 2 Surely very much. The word of God was committed first to them. 3 What, then, i...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Living Translation (NLT)

God Remains Faithful3 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.[a] 3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful,...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Life Version (NLV)

3 Do the Jews have anything that those who are not Jews do not have? What good does it do to go through the religious act of becoming a Jew? 2 Yes, the Jews have much more in every way. First of all, God gave the Jews His Law. 3 If some of them were not faithful, does it mean that God will not be ...
Read More

Romans 3 - New King James Version (NKJV)

God’s Judgment Defended3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because (A)to them were committed the [a]oracles of God. 3 For what if (B)some did not believe? (C)Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 (D)Ce...
Read More