Romans 3:9-20 - none righteous by works (Key Verse: 20)

All People Are Sinners

⁹ 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,^[a] are under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As the Scriptures say,

"No one is righteous-
not even one.
¹¹ No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
¹² All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one."
¹³ "Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies."
"Snake venom drips from their lips."
¹⁴ "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
¹⁵ "They rush to commit murder.
¹⁶ Destruction and misery always follow them.
¹⁷ They don't know where to find peace."
¹⁸ "They have no fear of God at all."

¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ 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.

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.