Romans 3
Wycliffe Bible
3 What then is more to a Jew, or what profit of circumcision?
2 Much by all wise [Much by all manner]; first, for the speakings of God were betaken to them.
3 And what if some of them believed not? Whether the unbelief of them hath voided the faith of God?
4 God forbid [Far be it]. For God is soothfast [Forsooth God is true, or soothfast], but each man a liar; as it is written, That thou be justified in thy words, and overcome, when thou art deemed.
5 But if our wickedness [Forsooth if our wickedness, or unequity,] commend the rightwiseness of God, what shall we say? Whether God is wicked, that bringeth in wrath? After man I say.
6 God forbid [Far be it]. Else how shall God deem this world?
7 For if the truth of God hath abounded in my lying, into the glory of him, what [and] yet am I deemed as a sinner?
8 And not as we be blasphemed, and as some say that we say, Do we evil things, that good things come. Whose damnation is just.
9 What then? Surpass we them? Nay; for we have showed by skill, that all both Jews and Greeks be under sin,[a]
10 as it is written, For there is no man just [For there is not any man just];
11 there is no man understanding [there is not a man understanding], neither seeking God.
12 All bowed away, together they be made unprofitable; there is none that doeth good thing, there is none till to one [there is not till to one].
13 The throat of them is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they did guilefully; the venom of snakes is under their lips[b].
14 The mouth of whom is full of cursing and bitterness;
15 the feet of them be swift to shed blood.
16 Sorrow and cursedness be in the ways of them,[c]
17 and they knew not the way of peace;
18 the dread of God is not before their eyes.
19 And we know [Forsooth we know], that whatever things the law speaketh, it speaketh to them that be in the law, that each mouth be stopped, and each world be made subject to God.
20 For of the works of the law each flesh shall not be justified before him; for by the law there is knowing of sin [for by the law is knowing of sin].
21 But now without the law the rightwiseness of God is showed, that is witnessed of the law and the prophets.
22 And the rightwiseness of God is by the faith of Jesus Christ into all men and on all men that believe in him; for there is no parting. [Soothly the rightwiseness of God is by the faith of Jesus Christ into all and on all that believe into him; forsooth there is no distinction, or parting.]
23 For all men sinned, and have need to the glory of God;
24 and be justified freely by his grace, by the again-buying that is in Christ Jesus [by the redemption, or the again-buying, that is in Jesus Christ].
25 Whom God ordained forgiver [Whom God purposed an helper], by faith in his blood, to the showing of his rightwiseness, for [the] remission of before-going sins, in the bearing up of God,
26 to the showing of his rightwiseness in this time, that he be just, and justifying him that is of the faith of Jesus Christ.
27 Where then is thy glorying? It is excluded. By what law? Of deeds doing? Nay, but by the law of faith.
28 For we deem a man to be justified by faith, without works of the law.
29 Whether of the Jews is God only? Whether he is not also of heathen men? Yes, and of heathen men.
30 For there is one God, that justifieth circumcision by faith, and prepuce by faith.
31 Destroy we therefore the law by faith? God forbid [Far be it]; but we stablish the law.
Footnotes
- Romans 3:9 What therefore? Pass we them? Nay; for we have showed by skill, the Jews and Greeks all to be under sin,
- Romans 3:13 with their tongues they did guilefully, or treacherously; the venom of snakes, that is asps, is under their lips
- Romans 3:16 Contrition, or defouling together, and infelicity/unhappiness, be in the ways of them,
Romans 3
New Matthew Bible
Paul shows what preferment the Jews have, and that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin, and are justified only by the grace of God in Christ.
3 What preferment, then, has the Jew? Or what advantage from circumcision? 2 Surely very much. The word of God was committed first to them. 3 What, then, if some of them did not believe? Does their unbelief make the promise of God without effect? 4 God forbid. Let God be true and all men liars, as it is written: That you may be justified in your words, and should overcome when you are judged.
5 If our unrighteousness makes the righteousness of God more excellent, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who takes vengeance? I speak after the manner of men. 6 God forbid, for how then will God judge the world? 7 If the truth of God appears more excellent through my lie, to his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say rather (as some ill report of us, and as some allege we say), let us do evil, so that good may come of it? Their condemnation is just.
9 What are we saying then? Are we better than they? No, not in any way. For we have already established that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, 10 as it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one. 11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way. They are all unprofitable. There is no one who does good: no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre. With their tongues they have deceived. The poison of asps is under their lips. 14 Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16 Destruction and wretchedness are in their ways, 17 and the way of peace they have not known. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Yea and we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that all mouths may be stopped, and all the world be subdued to God, 20 because no flesh can be justified in the sight of God by the deeds of the law. For by the law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now is declared the righteousness that comes of God without the fulfilling of the law, yet having the witness of the law and of the prophets. 22 Without doubt, the righteousness which is good before God comes by the faith of Jesus Christ, to all and upon all who believe.
There is no difference. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 but are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 Him God has made a seat of mercy, through faith in his blood, to show the righteousness that is of value before him, in that he forgives the sins that are past. 26 These God suffered in order to show at this time the righteousness that is granted by him, so that he may be counted just, and a justifier of the person who believes on Jesus.
27 Where then is self-righteousness? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we hold 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 the God of the Gentiles? Yes, even of the Gentiles also. 30 For there is one God, who justifies circumcision which is of faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then destroy the law through faith? God forbid. But we rather maintain the law.
Romans 3
Authorized (King James) Version
3 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.