3:1 Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? 3:2 Actually, there are many advantages. ¹  First of all, ²  the Jews ³  were entrusted with the oracles of God. ⁴  3:3 What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? 3:4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being ⁵  shown up as a liar, ⁶  just as it is written: “so that you will be justified ⁷  in your words and will prevail when you are judged.” ⁸ 

3:5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates ⁹  the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? ¹⁰  (I am speaking in human terms.) ¹¹  3:6 Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world? 3:7 For if by my lie the truth of God enhances ¹²  his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner? 3:8 And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? – as some who slander us allege that we say. ¹³  (Their ¹⁴  condemnation is deserved!)

3:9 What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, 3:10 just as it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one,

3:11 there is no one who understands,

there is no one who seeks God.

3:12 All have turned away,

together they have become worthless;

there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.” ¹⁵ 

3:13 “Their throats are open graves, ¹⁶ 

they deceive with their tongues,

the poison of asps is under their lips.” ¹⁷ 

3:14 “Their mouths are ¹⁸  full of cursing and bitterness.” ¹⁹ 

3:15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,

3:16 ruin and misery are in their paths,

3:17 and the way of peace they have not known.” ²⁰ 

3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” ²¹