Romans 3:1-14 ▼

1 What special privilege, then, has a Jew? Or what benefit is to be derived from circumcision?

2 The privilege is great from every point of view. First of all, because the Jews were entrusted with God's truth.

3 For what if some Jews have proved unfaithful? Shall their faithlessness render God's faithfulness worthless?

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 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 No indeed; for in that case how shall He judge all mankind?)

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 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 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 Thus it stands written, "There is not one righteous man.

11 There is not one who is really wise, nor one who is a diligent seeker after God.

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 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."