Romans 3:1-18 ▼

1 So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

2 Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the spoken words of God.

3 What then? If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness?

4 Absolutely not! God must be true, even if everyone is a liar, as it is written: That You may be justified in Your words and triumph when You judge.

5 But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I use a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

6 Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?

7 But if by my lie God’s truth is amplified to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

8 And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come|? Their condemnation is deserved!

9 What then? Are we any better? Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,

10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.

11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away; all alike have become useless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.

13 Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips.

14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,

17 and the path of peace they have not known.

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.