Romans 3

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Is there any benefit, then, in being a Jew? Is there any advantage in being circumcised?	1 So then, what more is the Jew, or what is the usefulness of circumcision?
2 A great deal, in every way. First of al , it was to the Jews that the message of God was entrusted.	2 Much in every way: First of all, certainly, because the eloquence of God was entrusted to them.
3 What if some of them were unfaithful? Do you think their lack of faith could cancel God's faithfulness?	3 But what if some of them have not believed? Shall their unbelief nullify the faith of God? Let it not be so!
4 Out of the question! God wil always be true even if no human being can be relied on. As scripturesays: That you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence and your victory may appear when yougive judgement.	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 injustice serves to bring God's saving justice into view, can we say that God is unjust when --to use human terms -- he brings his retribution down on us?	5 But if even our injustice points to the justice of God, what shall we say? Could God be unfair for inflicting wrath?
6 Out of the question! It would mean that God could not be the judge of the world.	6 (I am speaking in human terms.) Let it not be so! Otherwise, how would God judge this world?
7 You might as wel say that if my untruthfulness makes God demonstrate his truthfulness, to his greaterglory, then I should not be judged to be a sinner at al .	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 In this case, the slanderous report some people are spreading would be true, that we teach that oneshould do evil that good may come of it. In fact such people are justly condemned.	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 Wel : are we any better off? Not at al : we have already indicted Jews and Greeks as being al alikeunder the dominion 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 scripture says: Not one of them is upright, not a single one,	10 just as it was written: “There is no one who is just.
11 not a single one is wise, not a single one seeks God.	11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks God.
12 Al have turned away, all alike turned sour, not one of them does right, not a single 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 wide -- open graves, their tongues seductive. Viper's venom behind 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 speech is ful of cursing and bitterness.	14 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
15 Their feet quick to shed innocent blood,	15 Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16 wherever they go there is havoc and ruin.	16 Grief and unhappiness are in their ways.
17 They do not know the way of peace,	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 are wel aware that whatever the Law says is said for those who are subject to the Law, sothat every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world brought under the judgement of 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 So then, no human being can be found upright at the tribunal of God by keeping the Law; al that theLaw does is to tell us what is sinful.	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 God's saving justice was witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, but now it has been revealedaltogether apart from law:	21 But now, without the law, the justice of God, to which the law and the prophets have testified, has been made manifest.
22 God's saving justice given through faith in Jesus Christ to al who believe.	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 No distinction is made: all have sinned and lack God's glory,	23 For all have sinned and all are in need of the glory of God.
24 and all are justified by the free gift of his grace through being set free in Christ Jesus.	24 We have been justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 God appointed him as a sacrifice for reconciliation, through faith, by the shedding of his blood, and soshowed his justness; first for the past, when sins went unpunished because he held his hand;	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 and now again for the present age, to show how he is just and justifies everyone who has faith inJesus.	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 So what becomes of our boasts? There is no room for them. On what principle- that only actionscount? No; that faith is what counts,	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 since, as we see it, a person is justified by faith and not by doing what the Law tel s him to do.	28 For we judge a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law.
29 Do you think God is the God only of the Jews, and not of gentiles too? Most certainly of gentiles too,	29 Is God of the Jews only and not also of the Gentiles? On the contrary, of the Gentiles also.
30 since there is only one God; he will justify the circumcised by their faith, and he will justify theuncircumcised through their faith.	30 For One is the God who justifies circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Are we saying that the Law has been made pointless by faith? Out of the question; we are placing theLaw on its true footing.	31 Are we then destroying the law through faith? Let it not be so! Instead, we are making the law stand.