1. What advantage is there then in being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
2. Much, in every respect. [For] in the first place, they were entrusted with the utterances of God.
3. What if some were unfaithful? Will their infidelity nullify the fidelity of God?
4. Of course not! God must be true, though every human being is a liar, as it is written:“That you may be justified in your words,and conquer when you are judged.”
5. But if our wickedness provides proof of God’s righteousness, what can we say? Is God unjust, humanly speaking, to inflict his wrath?
6. Of course not! For how else is God to judge the world?
7. But if God’s truth redounds to his glory through my falsehood, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
8. And why not say—as we are accused and as some claim we say—that we should do evil that good may come of it? Their penalty is what they deserve.
9. Well, then, are we better off? Not entirely, for we have already brought the charge against Jews and Greeks alike that they are all under the domination of sin,
10. as it is written:“There is no one just, not one,
11. there is no one who understands,there is no one who seeks God.
12. All have gone astray; all alike are worthless;there is not one who does good,[there is not] even one.
13. Their throats are open graves;they deceive with their tongues;the venom of asps is on their lips;
14. their mouths are full of bitter cursing.