Romans 3:20,28,31
Romans 3:9-20 The Message (MSG)
So where does that put us? Do we Jews get a better break than the others? Not really. Basically, all of us, whether insiders or outsiders, start out in identical conditions, which is to say that we all start out as sinners. Scripture leaves no doubt about it: There’s nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They’ve all taken the wrong turn; they’ve all wandered down blind alleys. No one’s living right; I can’t find a single one. Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mudslides. Every word they speak is tinged with poison. They open their mouths and pollute the air. They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year, litter the land with heartbreak and ruin, Don’t know the first thing about living with others. They never give God the time of day. This makes it clear, doesn’t it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it’s clear enough, isn’t it, that we’re sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God’s revelation doesn’t put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else’s sin.
Romans 3:27-28 The Message (MSG)
So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counterclaims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we’ve learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We’ve finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade.
Romans 3:31 The Message (MSG)
But by shifting our focus from what we do to what God does, don’t we cancel out all our careful keeping of the rules and ways God commanded? Not at all. What happens, in fact, is that by putting that entire way of life in its proper place, we confirm it.
Romans 3:20 King James Version (KJV)
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:28 King James Version (KJV)
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 3:31 King James Version (KJV)
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 3:20 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:28 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Romans 3:31 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Romans 3:20 New Century Version (NCV)
because no one can be made right with God by following the law. The law only shows us our sin.
Romans 3:28 New Century Version (NCV)
A person is made right with God through faith, not through obeying the law.
Romans 3:31 New Century Version (NCV)
So do we destroy the law by following the way of faith? No! Faith causes us to be what the law truly wants.
Romans 3:20 American Standard Version (ASV)
because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:28 American Standard Version (ASV)
We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Romans 3:31 American Standard Version (ASV)
Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.
Romans 3:20 New International Version (NIV)
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Romans 3:28 New International Version (NIV)
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Romans 3:31 New International Version (NIV)
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Romans 3:20 New King James Version (NKJV)
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:28 New King James Version (NKJV)
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Romans 3:31 New King James Version (NKJV)
Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Romans 3:20 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin].
Romans 3:28 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For we maintain that an individual is justified by faith distinctly apart from works of the Law [the observance of which has nothing to do with justification, that is, being declared free of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God].
Romans 3:31 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Do we then nullify the Law by this faith [making the Law of no effect, overthrowing it]? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law [since it convicts us all of sin, pointing to the need for salvation].
Romans 3:20 New Living Translation (NLT)
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Romans 3:28 New Living Translation (NLT)
So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
Romans 3:31 New Living Translation (NLT)
Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Romans 3:20 The Passion Translation (TPT)
For by the merit of observing the law no one earns the status of being declared righteous before God, for it is the law that fully exposes and unmasks the reality of sin.
Romans 3:28 The Passion Translation (TPT)
So our conclusion is this: God’s wonderful declaration that we are righteous in his eyes can only come when we put our faith in Christ, and not in keeping the law.
Romans 3:31 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Does emphasizing our faith invalidate the law? Absolutely not. Instead, our faith establishes the role the law should rightfully have.
Romans 3:20 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.