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)

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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

The Entire World Guilty of Sin

What then? Do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 just 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 aside together; they have become worthless;
    There is no one who practices kindness;
    there is not even one.[a]
13 Their throat is an opened grave;
    they deceive with their tongues;
the venom of asps is under their lips,[b]
14     whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.[c]
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     destruction and distress are in their paths,
17 and they have not known the way of peace.[d]
18     The fear of God is not before their eyes.”[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:12 Verses 10–12 are a quotation from Ps 14:1–3
  2. Romans 3:13 A quotation from Ps 5:9 and Ps 140:3
  3. Romans 3:14 A quotation from Ps 10:7
  4. Romans 3:17 Verses 15–17 are a quotation from Isa 59:7–8
  5. Romans 3:18 A quotation from Ps 36:1