Justification by Faith Alone, Not Works

1. So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2. Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled because he justified himself rather than God. 3. Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were elder than he. 5. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled. 6. Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old; Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion. 7. I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’ 8. But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. 9. It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice. 10. Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.’ 11. “Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say. 12. Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you. 13. Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man;’ 14. for he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches. 15. “They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say. 16. Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, because they stand still, and answer no more? 17. I also will answer my part, and I also will show my opinion. 18. For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me. 19. Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; like new wineskins it is ready to burst. 20. I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer. 21. Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man. 22. For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away. 1. “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words. 2. See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth. 3. My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely. 4. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 5. If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up. 6. Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay. 7. Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you. 8. “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying, 9. ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. 10. Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy. 11. He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’ 12. “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man. 13. Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters? 14. For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention. 15. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed; 16. Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, 17. That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18. He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19. He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones; 20. So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food. 21. His flesh is so consumed away, that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out. 22. Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers. 23. “If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him; 24. then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’ 25. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth. 26. He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness. 27. He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me. 28. He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life shall see the light.’ 29. “Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man, 30. to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living. 31. Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak. 32. If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. 33. If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.” 1. Moreover Elihu answered, 2. “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. 3. For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food. 4. Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good. 5. For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right: 6. Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’ 7. What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water, 8. Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men? 9. For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’ 10. “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 11. For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12. Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice. 13. Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world? 14. If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath, 15. all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust. 16. “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words. 17. Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?— 18. Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’? 19. Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands. 20. In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand. 21. “For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings. 22. There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23. For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment. 24. He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place. 25. Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed. 26. He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others; 27. because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways, 28. so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted. 29. When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man, 30. that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people. 31. “For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more. 32. Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’? 33. Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know. 34. Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me: 35. ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’ 36. I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men. 37. For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”

1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, 2. which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3. concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh, 4. who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5. through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake; 6. among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ; 7. to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9. For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10. requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you. 11. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established; 12. that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13. Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14. I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15. So, as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome. 16. For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. 17. For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.” 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19. because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 20. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. 21. Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23. and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. 24. Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; 25. who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26. For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. 27. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. 28. Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29. being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, 30. backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31. without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32. who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them. 1. Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. 2. We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3. Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4. Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 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; 6. who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:” 7. to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; 8. but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, 9. oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 10. But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 11. For there is no partiality with God. 12. For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13. For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified 14. (for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15. in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them) 16. in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ. 17. Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God, 18. and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19. and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20. a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth. 21. You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal? 22. You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23. You who glory in the law, do you dishonor God by disobeying the law? 24. For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written. 25. For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26. If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision? 27. Won’t the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law? 28. For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; 29. but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God. 1. Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision? 2. Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God. 3. For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God? 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? 7. For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8. Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned. 9. What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin. 10. As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one. 11. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. 12. They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.” 13. “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”; 14. “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15. “Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16. Destruction and misery are in their ways. 17. The way of peace, they haven’t known.” 18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 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. 20. Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21. But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; 22. even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, 23. for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24. being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 25. whom God sent 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; 26. to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. 27. Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28. We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29. Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30. since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. 31. Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law. 1. What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 2. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 3. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4. Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. 5. But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. 6. Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, 7. “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8. Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.” 9. Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10. How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11. He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. 12. He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. 13. For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 15. For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. 16. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 17. As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. 18. Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.” 19. Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20. Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, 21. and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. 22. Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.” 23. Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, 24. but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, 25. who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification. 1. Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2. through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3. Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4. and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: 5. and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6. For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. 8. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12. Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. 13. For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. 15. But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16. The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. 17. For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. 18. So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. 19. For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. 20. The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; 21. that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: 2. to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; 3. to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4. to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man: 5. that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: 6. to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise. 7. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. 8. My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching: 9. for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck. 10. My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent. 11. If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lay in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. 12. Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. 13. We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder. 14. You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.” 15. My son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path, 16. for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood. 17. For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird: 18. but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners. 20. Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. 21. She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: 22. “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? 23. Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. 24. Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; 25. but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; 26. I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; 27. when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. 28. Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; 29. because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh. 30. They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 31. Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. 32. For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. 33. But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”