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Romans 3:9-4:8
English Standard Version
Romans 3:9-4:8
English Standard Version
No One Is Righteous
9 What then? Are we Jews[a] any better off?[b] No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both (A)Jews and (B)Greeks, are (C)under sin, 10 as it is written:
(D)“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 (E)“Their throat is (F)an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
(G)“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 (H)“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 (I)“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and (J)the way of peace they have not known.”
18 (K)“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever (L)the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, (M)so that every mouth may be stopped, and (N)the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For (O)by works of the law no human being[c] will be justified in his sight, since (P)through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21 But now (Q)the righteousness of God (R)has been manifested apart from the law, although (S)the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God (T)through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (U)For there is no distinction: 23 for (V)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 (W)and are justified (X)by his grace as a gift, (Y)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God (Z)put forward as (AA)a propitiation (AB)by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in (AC)his divine forbearance he had passed over (AD)former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 (AE)Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith (AF)apart from works of the law. 29 Or (AG)is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since (AH)God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and (AI)the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Abraham Justified by Faith
4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, (AJ)our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but (AK)not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? (AL)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now (AM)to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but (AN)believes in[d] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 (AO)“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not (AP)count his sin.”
Footnotes
- Romans 3:9 Greek Are we
- Romans 3:9 Or at any disadvantage?
- Romans 3:20 Greek flesh
- Romans 4:5 Or but trusts; compare verse 24
Romans 3:9-4:8
New International Version
Romans 3:9-4:8
New International Version
No One Is Righteous
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?(A) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.(B) 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,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”[a](C)
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”[b](D)
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[c](E)
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[d](F)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[e](G)
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[f](H)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(I) it says to those who are under the law,(J) so that every mouth may be silenced(K) and the whole world held accountable to God.(L) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;(M) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.(N)
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(O) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(P) 22 This righteousness(Q) is given through faith(R) in[g] Jesus Christ(S) to all who believe.(T) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(U) 23 for all have sinned(V) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(W) freely by his grace(X) through the redemption(Y) that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[h](Z) through the shedding of his blood(AA)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(AB)— 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?(AC) 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.(AD) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(AE) 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(AF) 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Abraham Justified by Faith
4 What then shall we say(AG) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,(AH) discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(AI) 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[i](AJ)
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(AK) but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(AL) 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Footnotes
- Romans 3:12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
- Romans 3:13 Psalm 5:9
- Romans 3:13 Psalm 140:3
- Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
- Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
- Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1
- Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
- Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).
- Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
- Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
Romans 3:9-4:8
King James Version
Romans 3:9-4:8
King James Version
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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