Romans 3:9-20

9Well then, are we [Jews] better off than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under the control of sin and subject to its power.

10As it is written and forever remains written, “There is none righteous [none that meets God’s standard], not even one.

11There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God.

12All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

13“Their throat is an open grave; They [habitually] deceive with their tongues.” “The venom of asps is beneath their lips.”

14“Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood,

16Destruction and misery are in their paths,

17And they have not known the path of peace.”

18“There is no fear of God [and His awesome power] before their eyes.”

19Now we know that whatever the Law [of Moses] says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the excuses of] every mouth may be silenced [from protesting] and that all the world may be held accountable to God [and subject to His judgment].

20For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin].