Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.

这却怎么样呢？我们比他们强吗？决不是的！因我们已经证明：犹太人和希腊人都在罪恶之下。

那又怎么样呢？我们比他们强吗？绝不是！因我们已经指证：犹太人和希腊人都在罪恶之下。

那又怎么样呢？我们比他们强吗？绝不是！因我们已经指证：犹太人和希腊人都在罪恶之下。

那么，我们犹太人比别人优越吗？绝对不是！我们已经说过，无论是犹太人还是希腊人，所有的人都身陷罪中。

那又怎么样呢？我们比他们强吗？绝不是的。因为我们已经控诉过，无论是犹太人或是希腊人，都在罪恶之下，

那么怎么样呢？我们犹太人比别人好吗？当然不是！我们已经指出：犹太人和外邦人都在罪孽之下。

這卻怎麼樣呢？我們比他們強嗎？決不是的！因我們已經證明：猶太人和希臘人都在罪惡之下。

那又怎麼樣呢？我們比他們強嗎？絕不是！因我們已經指證：猶太人和希臘人都在罪惡之下。

那又怎麼樣呢？我們比他們強嗎？絕不是！因我們已經指證：猶太人和希臘人都在罪惡之下。

那麼，我們猶太人比別人優越嗎？絕對不是！我們已經說過，無論是猶太人還是希臘人，所有的人都身陷罪中。

那又怎麼樣呢？我們比他們強嗎？絕不是的。因為我們已經控訴過，無論是猶太人或是希臘人，都在罪惡之下，

這卻怎麼樣呢？我們猶太人比他們外國人強麼？完全不是。我們已經起訴：萬人都在罪之下，不但希利尼人，猶太人也在內；

那麼怎麼樣呢？我們猶太人比別人好嗎？當然不是！我們已經指出：猶太人和外邦人都在罪孽之下。

然則何歟、我儕愈於彼乎、曰、否、不然、我曾證猶太人、希利尼人、咸在罪下、

曰、是何歟、我儕有勝乎、曰、無、我曾明言猶太希利尼人、咸服罪、

然則何歟、我儕猶太人有所、勝乎、無有、我已明證猶太人、希拉人、皆服罪、

然則吾人視他族果無所勝乎？實無所勝也！蓋無論猶太人與希臘人、其為罪人則一也。此為吾儕向所主張者；

What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.

What should we say then? Do we Jews have any advantage? Not at all! We have already claimed that Jews and Gentiles are sinners. Everyone is under the power of sin.

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin,

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;

What then? Are we any better? Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,

What then? are we better[ than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,

What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.

Yet they say to each other,‘ Don’t come too close or you will defile me! I am holier than you!’ These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away.

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.He will judge everyone according to what they have done.He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil— for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good— for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.For God does not show favoritism.When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.And this is the message I proclaim— that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness.You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.No wonder the Scriptures say,“ The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people?In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself,“ If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods?

“ But,” some might say,“ our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?”( This is merely a human point of view.)

Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have— the ones God has chosen— but the hearts of the rest were hardened.

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:“ Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer:‘ I thank you, God, that I am not like other people— cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’“ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying,‘ O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say,“ Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.