Jewish Violation of the Law

17 Now if[a] you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law,(A) and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior,(B) being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth(C) in the law— 21 you then, who teach another,(D) don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?(E) 23 You who boast in the law,(F) do you dishonor God by breaking the law?[b] 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.[c](G)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:17 Other mss read Look
  2. 2:23 Or you dishonor God by breaking the law.
  3. 2:24 Is 52:5

The Whole World Guilty before God

What then? Are we any better off?[a] Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews(A) and Greeks(B) are all under sin,[b](C) 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 worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.[c](D)
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.[d](E)
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.[e](F)
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.[f](G)
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.[g](H)
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.[h](I)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(J) it speaks to those who are subject to the law,[i](K) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.[j](L) 20 For no one will be justified[k] in his sight by the works of the law,(M) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.(N)

The Righteousness of God through Faith

21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed,(O) attested by the Law and the Prophets.[l](P) 22 The righteousness of God is through faith(Q) in Jesus Christ[m](R) to all who believe,(S) since there is no distinction.(T) 23 For all have sinned(U) and fall short of the[n] glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace(V) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.(W) 25 God presented him as the mercy seat[o](X) by his blood,(Y) through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God(Z) passed over the sins previously committed.(AA) 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:9 Are we Jews any better than the Gentiles?
  2. 3:9 Under sin’s power or dominion
  3. 3:10–12 Ps 14:1–3; 53:1–3; Ec 7:20
  4. 3:13 Ps 5:9
  5. 3:13 Ps 140:3
  6. 3:14 Ps 10:7
  7. 3:15–17 Is 59:7–8
  8. 3:18 Ps 36:1
  9. 3:19 Lit those in the law
  10. 3:19 Or become guilty before God, or may be accountable to God
  11. 3:20 Or will be declared righteous, or will be acquitted
  12. 3:21 When capitalized, the Law and the Prophets = OT
  13. 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ
  14. 3:23 Or and lack the
  15. 3:25 Or propitiation, or place of atonement

Faith Triumphs

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,(A) we have peace[a] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.(B) We have also obtained access through him(C) by faith[b] into this grace in which we stand,(D) and we boast[c] in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that,(E) but we also boast in our afflictions,(F) because we know that affliction produces endurance,(G) endurance produces proven character,(H) and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us,(I) because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts(J) through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The Justified Are Reconciled

For while we were still helpless, at the right time,(K) Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves(L) his own love for us(M) in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood,(N) will we be saved through him from wrath.(O) 10 For if, while we were enemies,(P) we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.(Q) 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Other mss read faith, let us have peace, which can also be translated faith, let us grasp the fact that we have peace
  2. 5:2 Other mss omit by faith
  3. 5:2 Or rejoice, also in vv. 3,11

Psalm 14

A Portrait of Sinners

For the choir director. Of David.

The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.”(A)
They are corrupt; they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race[a](B)
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 14:2 Or the descendants of Adam

14 Justice is turned back,
and righteousness stands far off.
For truth has stumbled in the public square,
and honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth is missing,
and whoever turns from evil is plundered.
The Lord saw that there was no justice,
and he was offended.
16 He saw that there was no man—
he was amazed that there was no one interceding;(A)
so his own arm brought salvation,
and his own righteousness supported him.

17 He put on righteousness as body armor,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;(B)
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and he wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.(C)
18 So he will repay according to their deeds:(D)
fury to his enemies,
retribution to his foes,
and he will repay the coasts and islands.
19 They will fear the name of the Lord in the west
and his glory in the east;[a](E)
for he will come like a rushing stream(F)
driven by the wind of the Lord.
20 “The Redeemer(G) will come to Zion,
and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression.”(H)
This is the Lord’s declaration.

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Footnotes

  1. 59:19 Lit sunrise

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