Letters to the Churches

and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader of blind ones, a light of those in darkness,

an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of babes, having the form of the knowledge and of the truth in the law.

Thou, then, who art teaching another, thyself dost thou not teach?

thou who art preaching not to steal, dost thou steal? thou who art saying not to commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou who art abhorring the idols, dost thou rob temples?

thou who in the law dost boast, through the transgression of the law God dost thou dishonour?

for the name of God because of you is evil spoken of among the nations, according as it hath been written.

For circumcision, indeed, doth profit, if law thou mayest practise, but if a transgressor of law thou mayest be, thy circumcision hath become uncircumcision.

If, therefore the uncircumcision the righteousness of the law may keep, shall not his uncircumcision for circumcision be reckoned?

and the uncircumcision, by nature, fulfilling the law, shall judge thee who, through letter and circumcision, art a transgressor of law.

For he is not a Jew who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in flesh;

but a Jew is he who is so inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, of which the praise is not of men, but of God.

What, then, is the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of the circumcision?

much in every way; for first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God;

for what, if certain were faithless? shall their faithlessness the faithfulness of god make useless?

let it not be! and let God become true, and every man false, according as it hath been written, `That Thou mayest be declared righteous in Thy words, and mayest overcome in Thy being judged.'

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)

let it not be! since how shall God judge the world?

for if the truth of God in my falsehood did more abound to His glory, why yet am I also as a sinner judged?

and not, as we are evil spoken of, and as certain affirm us to say--`We may do the evil things, that the good ones may come?' whose judgment is righteous.

What, then? are we better? not at all! for we did before charge both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin,

according as it hath been written--`There is none righteous, not even one;

There is none who is understanding, there is none who is seeking after God.

All did go out of the way, together they became unprofitable, there is none doing good, there is not even one.

A sepulchre opened is their throat; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of asps is under their lips.

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.