2. Much, indeed, in every way! In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews.
3. But what if some of them were not faithful? Does this mean that God will not be faithful?
4. Certainly not! God must be true, even though every human being is a liar. As the scripture says,“You must be shown to be right when you speak;you must win your case when you are being tried.”
5. But what if our doing wrong serves to show up more clearly God's doing right? Can we say that God does wrong when he punishes us? (This would be the natural question to ask.)
6. By no means! If God is not just, how can he judge the world?
7. But what if my untruth serves God's glory by making his truth stand out more clearly? Why should I still be condemned as a sinner?
8. Why not say, then, “Let us do evil so that good may come”? Some people, indeed, have insulted me by accusing me of saying this very thing! They will be condemned, as they should be.
9. Well then, are we Jews in any better condition than the Gentiles? Not at all! I have already shown that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.
10. As the Scriptures say:“There is no one who is righteous,
11. no one who is wiseor who worships God.
12. All have turned away from God;they have all gone wrong;no one does what is right, not even one.
13. Their words are full of deadly deceit;wicked lies roll off their tongues,and dangerous threats, like snake's poison, from their lips;
14. their speech is filled with bitter curses.
15. They are quick to hurt and kill;
16. they leave ruin and destruction wherever they go.