Romans 3:1–20

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

¹⁹Now 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. ²⁰Wherefore by works of law no flesh shall be justified before him; for by law is knowledge of sin.