Psalm 53^[a](A)

For the director of music. According to mahalath.^[b] A maskil^[c] of David.

Psalm 14^(A)

For the director of music. Of David.

¹⁰ As it is written:

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says,^(G) it says to those who are under the law,^(H) so that every mouth may be silenced^(I) and the whole world held accountable to God.^{(J) 20} Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;^(K) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.^(L)

Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God^(M) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.^{(N) 22} This righteousness^(O) is given through faith^(P) in^[g] Jesus Christ^(Q) to all who believe.^(R) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,^{(S) 23} for all have sinned^(T) and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified^(U) freely by his grace^(V) through the redemption^(W) that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[h](X) through the shedding of his blood^(Y)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(Z)— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Where, then, is boasting?^(AA) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.^{(AB) 29} Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,^{(AC) 30} since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.^{(AD) 31} Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over^(A) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool!^(A) This very night your life will be demanded from you.^(B) Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’^(C)

²⁴ There were even male shrine prostitutes^(A) in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable^(B) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.

²⁶ Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David.

²⁴ “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you^(A) became defiled.^{(B) 25} Even the land was defiled;^(C) so I punished it for its sin,^(D) and the land vomited out its inhabitants.^{(E) 26} But you must keep my decrees and my laws.^(F) The native-born and the foreigners residing among you must not do any of these detestable things, ²⁷ for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. ²⁸ And if you defile the land,^(G) it will vomit you out^(H) as it vomited out the nations that were before you.

²⁹ “‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. ³⁰ Keep my requirements^(I) and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.^(J)’”