Romans 3

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 What advantage is there then in being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?	1 So then, what more is the Jew, or what is the usefulness of circumcision?
2 Much, in every respect. (For) in the first place, they were entrusted with the utterances of God.	2 Much in every way: First of all, certainly, because the eloquence of God was entrusted to them.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their infidelity nullify the fidelity of God?	3 But what if some of them have not believed? Shall their unbelief nullify the faith of God? Let it not be so!
4 Of course not! God must be true, though every human being is a liar, as it is written: "That you may be justified in your words, and conquer when you are judged."	4 For God is truthful, but every man is deceitful; just as it was written: “Therefore, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment.”
5 But if our wickedness provides proof of God's righteousness, what can we say? Is God unjust, humanly speaking, to inflict his wrath?	5 But if even our injustice points to the justice of God, what shall we say? Could God be unfair for inflicting wrath?
6 Of course not! For how else is God to judge the world?	6 (I am speaking in human terms.) Let it not be so! Otherwise, how would God judge this world?
7 But if God's truth redounds to his glory through my falsehood, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?	7 For if the truth of God has abounded, through my falseness, unto his glory, why should I still be judged as such a sinner?
8 And why not say--as we are accused and as some claim we say--that we should do evil that good may come of it? Their penalty is what they deserve.	8 And should we not do evil, so that good may result? For so we have been slandered, and so some have claimed we said; their condemnation is just.
9 Well, then, are we better off? Not entirely, for we have already brought the charge against Jews and Greeks alike that they are all under the domination of sin,	9 What is next? Should we try to excel ahead of them? By no means! For we have accused all Jews and Greeks to be under sin,
10 as it is written: "There is no one just, not one,	10 just as it was written: “There is no one who is just.
11 there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.	11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks God.
12 All have gone astray; all alike are worthless; there is not one who does good, (there is not) even one.	12 All have gone astray; together they have become useless. There is no one who does good; there is not even one.
13 Their throats are open graves; they deceive with their tongues; the venom of asps is on their lips;	13 Their throat is an open sepulcher. With their tongues, they have been acting deceitfully. The venom of asps is under their lips.
14 their mouths are full of bitter cursing.	14 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
15 Their feet are quick to shed blood;	15 Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16 ruin and misery are in their ways,	16 Grief and unhappiness are in their ways.
17 and the way of peace they know not.	17 And the way of 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 what the law says is addressed to those under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world stand accountable to God,	19 But we know that whatever the law speaks, it speaks to those who are in the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the entire world may be subject to God.
20 since no human being will be justified in his sight by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin.	20 For in his presence no flesh shall be justified by the works of the law. For knowledge of sin is through the law.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets,	21 But now, without the law, the justice of God, to which the law and the prophets have testified, has been made manifest.
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction;	22 And the justice of God, though the faith of Jesus Christ, is in all those and over all those who believe in him. For there is no distinction.
23 all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.	23 For all have sinned and all are in need of the glory of God.
24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus,	24 We have been justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood, to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,	25 whom God has offered as a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to reveal his justice for the remission of the former offenses,
26 through the forbearance of God--to prove his righteousness in the present time, that he might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.	26 and by the forbearance of God, to reveal his justice in this time, so that he himself might be both the Just One and the Justifier of anyone who is of the faith of Jesus Christ.
27 What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On what principle, that of works? No, rather on the principle of faith.	27 So then, where is your self-exaltation? It is excluded. Through what law? That of works? No, but rather through the law of faith.
28 For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.	28 For we judge a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law.
29 Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles,	29 Is God of the Jews only and not also of the Gentiles? On the contrary, of the Gentiles also.
30 for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.	30 For One is the God who justifies circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course not! On the contrary, we are supporting the law.	31 Are we then destroying the law through faith? Let it not be so! Instead, we are making the law stand.