God’s Righteousness Upheld
1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, xthe Jews were entrusted with ythe oracles of God. 3 zWhat if some were unfaithful? aDoes their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! bLet God be true though cevery one were a liar, as it is written,
d“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you eare judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict fwrath on us? (gI speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could hGod judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, iwhy am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not jdo evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
No One Is Righteous
9 What then? Are we Jews1 any better off?2 No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both kJews and lGreeks, are munder sin, 10 as it is written:
n“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 o“Their throat is pan open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
q“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 r“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 s“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and tthe way of peace they have not known.”
18 u“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever vthe law says it speaks to those who are under the law, wso that every mouth may be stopped, and xthe whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For yby works of the law no human being3 will be justified in his sight, since zthrough the law comes knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21 But now athe righteousness of God bhas been manifested apart from the law, although cthe Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God dthrough faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. eFor there is no distinction: 23 for fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 gand are justified hby his grace as a gift, ithrough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God jput forward as ka propitiation lby his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in mhis divine forbearance he had passed over nformer sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 oThen what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith papart from works of the law. 29 Or qis God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since rGod is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and sthe uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Teth
65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O Lord, zaccording to your word.
66 Teach me agood judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 bBefore I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 cYou are good and do good;
dteach me your statutes.
69 eThe insolent fsmear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I gkeep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling hlike fat,
but I idelight in your law.
71 It is jgood for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 kThe law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Yodh
73 lYour hands have made and fashioned me;
mgive me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and nrejoice,
because I have ohoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are prighteous,
and that in qfaithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your rmercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my sdelight.
78 Let tthe insolent be put to ushame,
because they have vwronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will wmeditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you xturn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be yblameless in your statutes,
zthat I may not be put to shame!
Kaph
81 My soul alongs for your salvation;
I bhope in your word.
82 My ceyes long for your promise;
I ask, d“When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have ebecome like a fwineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 gHow long must your servant endure?1
hWhen will you judge those who persecute me?
85 iThe insolent have jdug pitfalls for me;
they do not live according to your law.
86 All your commandments are ksure;
they persecute me lwith falsehood; mhelp me!
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love ngive me life,
that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.
Lamedh
89 Forever, O Lord, your oword
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your pfaithfulness endures to all generations;
you have qestablished the earth, and it rstands fast.
91 By your sappointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my tdelight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have ugiven me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
vfor I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly wbroad.
Mem
97 Oh how xI love your law!
It is my ymeditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me zwiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for ayour testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than bthe aged,2
for I ckeep your precepts.
101 I dhold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
for you have taught me.
103 How esweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore fI hate every false way.
Nun
105 gYour word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106 I have hsworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your irighteous rules.
107 I am severely jafflicted;
kgive me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108 Accept lmy freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and mteach me your rules.
109 I hold my life nin my hand continually,
but I do not oforget your law.
110 The wicked have laid pa snare for me,
but qI do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are rmy heritage forever,
for they are sthe joy of my heart.
112 I tincline my heart to perform your statutes
Samekh
113 I hate vthe double-minded,
but I love wyour law.
114 You are my xhiding place and my yshield;
I zhope in your word.
115 aDepart from me, you evildoers,
that I may bkeep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me caccording to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be dput to shame in my ehope!
117 fHold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually!
118 You gspurn all who hgo astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like idross,
therefore jI love your testimonies.
120 My flesh ktrembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.
Ayin
121 I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Give your servant la pledge of good;
let not mthe insolent oppress me.
123 My neyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and oteach me your statutes.
125 I am your pservant; qgive me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies!
126 It is time for the Lord to act,
for your law has been broken.
127 Therefore I rlove your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every sfalse way.
