New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

2which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

3concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

3concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh

4and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

4and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

5Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

6among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

7To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,

9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you

10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.

10always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—

11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—

12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

12that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

13Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.

13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

14I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.

14I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

15So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

15So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

19because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22Professing to be wise, they became fools,

22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

25who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

26For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;

27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

27and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

28And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,

29They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

30backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

31foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

32Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.