1 Paul, bondman of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to God’s glad tidings, 2 (which he had before promised by his prophets in holy writings,) 3 concerning his Son (come of David’s seed according to flesh, 4 marked out Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by resurrection of the dead) Jesus Christ our Lord; 5 by whom we have received grace and apostleship in behalf of his name, for obedience of faith among all the nations, 6 among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed in the whole world. 9  For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the glad tidings of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, 10  always beseeching at my prayers, if any way now at least I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you. 11  For I greatly desire to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to establish you; 12  that is, to have mutual comfort among you, each by the faith which is in the other, both yours and mine. 13  But I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, that I often proposed to come to you, (and have been hindered until the present time,) that I might have some fruit among you too, even as among the other nations also. 14  I am a debtor both to Greeks and barbarians, both to wise and unintelligent: 15  so, as far as depends on me, am I ready to announce the glad tidings to you also who are in Rome.

16  For I am not ashamed of the glad tidings; for it is God’s power to salvation, to every one that believes, both to Jew first and to Greek: 17  for righteousness of God is revealed therein, on the principle of faith, to faith: according as it is written, But the just shall live by faith. 18  For there is revealed wrath of God from heaven upon all impiety, and unrighteousness of men holding the truth in unrighteousness.

19  Because what is known of God is manifest among them, for God has manifested it to them, 20  —for from the world’s creation the invisible things of him are perceived, being apprehended by the mind through the things that are made, both his eternal power and divinity, —so as to render them inexcusable. 21  Because, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but fell into folly in their thoughts, and their heart without understanding was darkened: 22  professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and quadrupeds and reptiles. 24  Wherefore God gave them up also in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies between themselves: 25  who changed the truth of God into falsehood, and honoured and served the creature more than him who had created it, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26  For this reason God gave them up to vile lusts; for both their females changed the natural use into that contrary to nature; 27  and in like manner the males also, leaving the natural use of the female, were inflamed in their lust towards one another; males with males working shame, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was fit. 28  And according as they did not think good to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind to practise unseemly things; 29  being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions; whisperers, 30  back-biters, hateful to God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31  void of understanding, faithless, without natural affection, unmerciful; 32  who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only practise them, but have fellow delight in those who do them.

Chapter 2

1  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, every one who judgest, for in that in which thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2  But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth upon those who do such things. 3  And thinkest thou this, O man, who judgest those that do such things, and practisest them thyself, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4  or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance? 5  but, according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up to thyself wrath, in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6  who shall render to each according to his works: 7  to them who, in patient continuance of good works, seek for glory and honour and incorruptibility, life eternal. 8  But to those that are contentious, and are disobedient to the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there shall be wrath and indignation, 9  tribulation and distress, on every soul of man that works evil, both of Jew first, and of Greek; 10  but glory and honour and peace to every one that works good, both to Jew first and to Greek: 11  for there is no acceptance of persons with God. 12  For as many as have sinned without law shall perish also without law; and as many as have sinned under law shall be judged by law, 13  (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14  For when those of the nations, which have no law, practise by nature the things of the law, these, having no law, are a law to themselves; 15  who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts accusing or else excusing themselves between themselves;) 16  in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my glad tidings, by Jesus Christ.

17  But if thou art named a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast in God, 18  and knowest the will, and discerningly approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19  and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness, 20  an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law: 21  thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal? 22  thou that sayest man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23  thou who boastest in law, dost thou by transgression of the law dishonour God? 24  For the name of God is blasphemed on your account among the nations, according as it is written. 25  For circumcision indeed profits if thou keep the law; but if thou be a law-transgressor, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. 26  If therefore the uncircumcision keep the requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision, 27  and uncircumcision by nature, fulfilling the law, judge thee, who, with letter and circumcision, art a law-transgressor? 28  For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither that circumcision which is outward in flesh; 29  but he is a Jew who is so inwardly; and circumcision, of the heart, in spirit, not in letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Chapter 3

1  What then is the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of circumcision? 2  Much every way: and first, indeed, that to them were entrusted the oracles of God. 3  For what? if some have not believed, shall their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect? 4  Far be the thought: but let God be true, and every man false; according as it is written, So that thou shouldest be justified in thy words, and shouldest overcome when thou art in judgment. 5  But if our unrighteousness commend God’s righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man. 6  Far be the thought: since how shall God judge the world? 7  For if the truth of God, in my lie, has more abounded to his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8  and not, according as we are injuriously charged, and according as some affirm that we say, Let us practise evil things, that good ones may come? whose judgment is just. 9  What then? are we better? No, in no wise: for we have before charged both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin: 10  according as it is written, There is not a righteous man, not even one; 11  there is not the man that understands, there is not one that seeks after God. 12  All have gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable; there is not one that practises goodness, there is not so much as one: 13  their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; asps’ poison is under their lips: 14  whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; 15  swift their feet to shed blood; 16  ruin and misery are in their ways, 17  and way of peace they have not known: 18  there is no fear of God before their eyes.

19  Now we know that whatever the things the law says, it speaks to those under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world be under judgment to God. 20  Wherefore by works of law no flesh shall be justified before him; for by law is knowledge of sin. 21  But now without law righteousness of God is manifested, borne witness to by the law and the prophets; 22  righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ towards all, and upon all those who 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 which is in Christ Jesus; 25  whom God has set forth a mercy-seat, through faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of his righteousness, in respect of the passing by the sins that had taken place before, through the forbearance of God; 26  for the shewing forth of …