Romans 3

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

What benefit does being a Jew bring? Or what value is there in circumcision?

Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

In many ways, especially because they were entrusted with God's divine messages.

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Does it matter if some people don't believe? Does their disbelief cancel out God's faithfulness?

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.

Absolutely not! God is always true, even if everyone else is lying. As it is written, "You will be proved right in what You say, and You will win when You are judged."

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

If our wrongdoings highlight God's goodness, what can we say? Is God unfair to bring His wrath on us? (I say this from a human perspective)

God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

Absolutely not! If that were the case, how would God be able to pass judgment on the world?

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

If my dishonesty highlights God's truthfulness and brings Him glory, why am I still considered a sinner?

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.

It's unjust to think, as some falsely claim we say, that we should do wrong to bring about good. Those who believe so rightly deserve condemnation.

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;

So, are we superior to others? Absolutely not! We've already established that everyone, Jews and non-Jews alike, are all equally flawed by sin.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

In the sacred text, it's stated that no one is truly virtuous, not a single soul.

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

No one truly understands, no one genuinely seeks God.

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Everyone has strayed off the path, collectively they've become useless; there's not a single person doing good, not even one.

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Their words are like open graves, filled with lies and deceit; their speech is as venomous as a viper's bite.

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Their words are filled with hate and resentment.

Their feet are swift to shed blood:

They eagerly rush to shed blood.

Destruction and misery are in their ways:

Their paths are filled with ruin and sorrow.

And the way of peace have they not known:

They are unaware of the path to tranquility.

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

They gaze ahead, their hearts devoid of God's awe.

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.

We understand that the law speaks to those who follow it, silencing everyone and making the whole world accountable to God.

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.

No one will be made right in God's sight by keeping the law, as the law only reveals our wrongdoings.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Now, God's goodness is revealed, not by rules, but through faith, as affirmed by the law and the prophets.

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:

God's righteousness, gifted through faith in Jesus Christ, is available to everyone who believes. There's no discrimination; it's for all.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Everyone has sinned, and none of us live up to God's magnificent perfection.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Graciously, we are absolved through the loving sacrifice of Christ Jesus.

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;

God has given us a way to be forgiven for our past sins through faith in His sacrifice. This shows His incredible patience and highlights His perfect righteousness.

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

To proclaim now, His fairness is undeniable. He is the epitome of justice, and the one who validates those who have faith in Jesus.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

So, where does self-pride fit in? It doesn't. Is it based on our actions? No, it's based on our faith.

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

We firmly believe that a person is made right with God through faith, not by following religious rules.

Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

Isn't He not just the God of the Jews, but also of everyone else? Indeed, He is the God of all people.

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

There is only one God, and He makes both the circumcised Jews and the uncircumcised non-Jews right with Himself in the same way: through faith.

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Does our faith nullify the law? Absolutely not! In fact, our faith upholds and strengthens the law.