Romans 3:2,4-6
Romans 3:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
Romans 3:4-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.” But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
Romans 3:1-6 The Message (MSG)
So what difference does it make who’s a Jew and who isn’t, who has been trained in God’s ways and who hasn’t? As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference—but not the difference so many have assumed. Your words stand fast and true; Rejection doesn’t faze you. But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God’s rightdoing, shouldn’t we be commended for helping out? Since our lies don’t even make a dent in his truth, isn’t it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn’t do the straightening?
Romans 3:2b-6-2b-6 The Message (MSG)
First, there’s the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God’s revelation, these Holy Scriptures. So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn’t abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same: Your words stand fast and true; Rejection doesn’t faze you. But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God’s rightdoing, shouldn’t we be commended for helping out? Since our lies don’t even make a dent in his truth, isn’t it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn’t do the straightening?
Romans 3:2 King James Version (KJV)
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Romans 3:4-6 King James Version (KJV)
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, And mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
Romans 3:2 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Romans 3:4-6 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.” But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?
Romans 3:2 New Century Version (NCV)
Yes, of course, there is in every way. The most important thing is this: God trusted the Jews with his teachings.
Romans 3:4-6 New Century Version (NCV)
No! God will continue to be true even when every person is false. As the Scriptures say: “So you will be shown to be right when you speak, and you will win your case.” When we do wrong, that shows more clearly that God is right. So can we say that God is wrong to punish us? (I am talking as people might talk.) No! If God could not punish us, he could not judge the world.
Romans 3:2 American Standard Version (ASV)
Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.
Romans 3:4-6 American Standard Version (ASV)
God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment. But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
Romans 3:2 New International Version (NIV)
Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
Romans 3:4-6 New International Version (NIV)
Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?
Romans 3:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
Romans 3:4-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.” But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
Romans 3:2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Great in every respect. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God [His very words]. [Ps 147:19]
Romans 3:4-6 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Certainly not! Let God be found true [as He will be], though every person be found a liar, just as it is written [in Scripture], “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED [by sinful men].” [Ps 51:4] But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God is not wrong to inflict His wrath [on us], is He? (I am speaking in purely human terms.) Certainly not! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?
Romans 3:2 New Living Translation (NLT)
Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.
Romans 3:4-6 New Living Translation (NLT)
Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.” “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.) Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?
Romans 3:2 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Actually, there are numerous advantages. Most important, God distinguished the Jews from all other people by entrusting them with the revelation of his prophetic promises.
Romans 3:4-6 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Absolutely not! God will always be proven faithful and true to his word, while people are proven to be liars. This will fulfill what was written in the Scriptures: Your words will always be vindicated and you will rise victorious when you are being tried by your critics! But what if our wrong shows how right God is? Doesn’t our bad serve the purpose of making God look good? (Of course, I’m only speaking from a human viewpoint.) Would that infer that God is unfair when he displays his anger against wrongdoing? Absolutely not! For if that were the case, how could God be the righteous judge of all the earth?
Romans 3:2 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)
Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Romans 3:4-6 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)
By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?