Dual Panel1THEN WHAT advantage remains to the Jew? [How is he favored?] Or what is the value {or} benefit of circumcision?
2Much in every way. To begin with, to the Jews were entrusted the oracles (the brief communications, the intentions, the utterances) of God.
3What if some did not believe {and} were without faith? Does their lack of faith {and} their faithlessness nullify {and} make ineffective {and} void the faithfulness of God {and} His fidelity [to His Word]?
4By no means! Let God be found true though every human being is false {and} a liar, as it is written, That You may be justified {and} shown to be upright in what You say, and prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].
5But if our unrighteousness thus establishes {and} exhibits the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust {and} wrong to inflict His wrath upon us [Jews]? I speak in a [purely] human way.
6By no means! Otherwise, how could God judge the world?
7But [you say] if through my falsehood God's integrity is magnified {and} advertised {and} abounds to His glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner?
8And why should we not do evil that good may come?--as some slanderously charge us with teaching. Such [false teaching] is justly condemned by them.
9Well then, are we [Jews] superior {and} better off than they? No, not at all. We have already charged that all men, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), are under sin [held down by and subject to its power and control].
10As it is written, None is righteous, just {and} truthful {and} upright {and} conscientious, no, not one.
11No one understands [no one intelligently discerns {or} comprehends]; no one seeks out God.
12All have turned aside; together they have gone wrong {and} have become unprofitable {and} worthless; no one does right, not even one!
13Their throat is a yawning grave; they use their tongues to deceive (to mislead and to deal treacherously). The venom of asps is beneath their lips.
14Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16Destruction [as it dashes them to pieces] and misery mark their ways.
17And they have no experience of the way of peace [they know nothing about peace, for a peaceful way they do not even recognize].
18There is no [reverential] fear of God before their eyes.
19Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the murmurs and excuses of] every mouth may be hushed and all the world may be held accountable to God.
20For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize {and} be conscious of sin [not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character].
21But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently {and} altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets,
22Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing {with} personal trust {and} confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction,
23Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor {and} glory which God bestows {and} receives.
24[All] are justified {and} made upright {and} in right standing with God, freely {and} gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,
25Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat {and} propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over {and} ignored former sins without punishment.
26It was to demonstrate {and} prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies {and} accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus.
27Then what becomes of [our] pride {and} [our] boasting? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely). On what principle? [On the principle] of doing good deeds? No, but on the principle of faith.
28For we hold that a man is justified {and} made upright by faith independent of {and} distinctly apart from good deeds (works of the Law). [The observance of the Law has nothing to do with justification.]
29Or is God merely [the God] of Jews? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
30Since it is one and the same God Who will justify the circumcised by faith [which germinated from Abraham] and the uncircumcised through their [newly acquired] faith. [For it is the same trusting faith in both cases, a firmly relying faith in Jesus Christ].
31Do we then by [this] faith make the Law of no effect, overthrow it {or} make it a dead letter? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm {and} establish {and} uphold the Law.