Parallel Verses

World English Bible

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

New American Standard Bible

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.)

King James Version

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

Holman Bible

But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I use a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

International Standard Version

But if our unrighteousness serves to confirm God's righteousness, what can we say? God is not unrighteous when he vents his wrath on us, is he? (I am talking in human terms.)

A Conservative Version

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous inflicting wrath? (I speak according to a man.)

American Standard Version

But if our righteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)

Amplified

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.)

An Understandable Version

Now if our wrongdoing serves to emphasize more clearly that God does what is right, what should we say about that? Is God being unjust for sending [His] wrath [on the world]? (I am raising a human objection).

Anderson New Testament

But if our unrighteousness causes God's plan of justifying men to be better known, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who inflicts punishment? I speak as a man.

Bible in Basic English

But if the righteousness of God is supported by our wrongdoing what is to be said? is it wrong for God to be angry (as men may say)?

Common New Testament

But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)

Daniel Mace New Testament

but say you, "if our unfaithfulness displays the veracity of God, what shall we say? is it not injustice in God to inflict punishment?"

Darby Translation

But if our unrighteousness commend God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man.

Godbey New Testament

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust administering wrath? I speak according to a man.

Goodspeed New Testament

But if our wrongdoing brings out the uprightness of God, what are we to say? Is it wrong in God (I am putting it in ordinary human terms) to inflict punishment?

John Wesley New Testament

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unjust, who taketh vengeance?

Julia Smith Translation

And if our injustice shall recommend the justice of God, what shall we say God not unjust bringing in anger? (I speak as man)

King James 2000

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man)

Lexham Expanded Bible

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, who inflicts wrath, [is] not unjust, [is he]? (I am speaking according to a human perspective.)

Modern King James verseion

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who lays on wrath? (I speak as a man.)

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

If our unrighteousness make the righteousness of God more excellent: what shall we say? Is God unrighteous which taketh vengeance? I speak after the manner of men.

Moffatt New Testament

But if our iniquity thus serves to bring out the justice of God, what are we to infer? That it is unfair of God to inflict his anger on us? (I speak in a merely human way.)

Montgomery New Testament

But if our unrighteousness thus brings out God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous?? speak after the manner of men??hen he inflicts his anger on us?

NET Bible

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.)

New Heart English Bible

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

Noyes New Testament

But if our unrighteousness serve to display the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicteth punishment? (I am speaking as men do.)

Sawyer New Testament

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak as a man;??6 by no means;??ince [if he was] how shall God judge the world?

The Emphasized Bible

But, if, our unrighteousness, commendeth, God's righteousness, what shall we say? Surely, not unrighteous, is God who visiteth with his anger? After the manner of men, I am speaking, -

Thomas Haweis New Testament

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unrighteous in inflicting wrath? (I speak humanly).

Twentieth Century New Testament

But what if our wrong-doing makes God's righteousness all the clearer? Will God be wrong in inflicting punishment? (I can but speak as a man.) Heaven forbid!

Webster

But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man.)

Weymouth New Testament

But if our unrighteousness sets God's righteousness in a clearer light, what shall we say? (Is God unrighteous--I speak in our everyday language-- when He inflicts punishment?

Williams New Testament

But if our wrongdoing brings to light the uprightness of God, what shall we infer? Is it wrong (I am using everyday human terms) for God to inflict punishment?

Worrell New Testament

But, if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, Who visits with wrath? (I speak after the manner of a man).

Worsley New Testament

"But if our unrighteousness confirm the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unrighteous, who inflicteth his wrath?" (I speak as a man) God forbid:

Youngs Literal Translation

And, if our unrighteousness God's righteousness doth establish, what shall we say? is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (after the manner of a man I speak)

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
But
δέ 
De 
but, and, now, then, also, yet, yea, so, moreover, nevertheless, for, even, , not tr
Usage: 2184

if
εἰ 
Ei 
if, whether, that, not tr,
Usage: 218

our
ἡμῶν 
hemon 
our, us, we, not tr,
Usage: 388

G93
ἀδικία 
Adikia 
Usage: 20

συνιστάω συνιστάνω συνίστημι 
sunistao 
Usage: 16

δικαιοσύνη 
Dikaiosune 
Usage: 83

of God
θεός 
theos 
Usage: 1151

τίς 
Tis 
Usage: 344

shall we say
ἐρέω 
Ereo 
Usage: 41

Is God
θεός 
theos 
Usage: 1151

G94
ἄδικος 
Adikos 
Usage: 7

ἐπιφέρω 
Epiphero 
Usage: 5

ὀργή 
Orge 
Usage: 35

I speak
λέγω 
Lego 
Usage: 1045

as
κατά 
Kata 
according to, after, against, in, by, daily , as,
Usage: 428

Context Readings

Jews Still Have An Advantage

4 May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, "That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment." 5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. 6 May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?


Cross References

Romans 6:19

I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.

Galatians 3:15

Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it.

1 Corinthians 9:8

Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn't the law also say the same thing?

Romans 2:5

But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;

Romans 4:1

What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?

Romans 7:7

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."

Deuteronomy 32:39-43

"See now that I, even I, am he, There is no god with me. I kill, and I make alive. I wound, and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.

Psalm 58:10-11

The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;

Psalm 94:1-2

Yahweh, you God to whom vengeance belongs, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth.

Nahum 1:2

Yahweh is a jealous God and avenges. Yahweh avenges and is full of wrath. Yahweh takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies.

Nahum 1:6-8

Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.

Romans 3:7

For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

Romans 3:19

Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Romans 3:25-26

whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance;

Romans 6:1

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Romans 8:20-21

For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

Romans 9:13-14

Even as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

Romans 9:18-20

So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.

Romans 12:19

Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:32

If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

2 Thessalonians 1:6-9

Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,

Revelation 15:3

They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.

Revelation 16:5-7

I heard the angel of the waters saying, "You are righteous, who are and who were, you Holy One, because you have judged these things.

Revelation 18:20

"Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her."

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain