Romans 3:9-4:5

English Standard Version

No One Is Righteous

⁹What 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, ¹⁰as it is written:

^(D)“None is righteous, no, not one;
¹¹    no one understands;
    no one seeks for God.
¹²All 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,
¹⁷and ^(J)the way of peace they have not known.”
¹⁸    ^(K)“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

¹⁹Now 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. ²⁰For ^(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

²¹But 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— ²²the righteousness of God ^(T)through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. ^(U)For there is no distinction: ²³for ^(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, ²⁵whom 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. ²⁶It 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. ²⁸For we hold that one is justified by faith ^(AF)apart from works of the law. ²⁹Or ^(AG)is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, ³⁰since ^(AH)God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and ^(AI)the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹Do 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? ²For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but ^(AK)not before God. ³For what does the Scripture say? ^(AL)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” ⁴Now ^(AM)to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. ⁵And to the one who does not work but ^(AN)believes in^[d] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,