But ifour unrighteousnessdemonstratesthe righteousnessof God,whatshall we say?The Godwho inflictswrathis not unrighteous,is He? (I am speakingin humanterms.)
"Farbe it from You to dosucha thing,to slaythe righteouswith the wicked,so that the righteousand the wickedare [treated] alike. Farbe it from You! Shall not the Judgeof allthe earthdealjustly?"
"Does Godpervertjustice?Ordoes the Almightypervertwhatis right?
A jealousand avengingGodis the LORD;The LORDis avengingand wrathful.The LORDtakesvengeanceon His adversaries,And He reserveswrathfor His enemies.
Nevertakeyour ownrevenge,beloved,but leaveroomfor the wrath[of God], for it is written,"VENGEANCEIS MINE,I WILL REPAY,"saysthe Lord.
But becauseof your stubbornnessand unrepentantheartyou are storingup wrathfor yourselfin the dayof wrathand revelationof the righteous judgmentof God,
Nowwe knowthat whateverthe Lawsays,it speaksto thosewho are underthe Law,sothat everymouthmay be closedand allthe worldmay becomeaccountableto God;
But ifthroughmy liethe truthof Godaboundedto His glory,whyam I alsostillbeing judgedas a sinner?
Whatthenshall we saythat Abraham,our forefatheraccordingto the flesh,has found?
But GoddemonstratesHis ownlovetowardus, in that while we were yetsinners,Christdiedfor us.
Whatshall we saythen?Are we to continuein sinsothat gracemay increase?
I am speakingin human termsbecauseof the weaknessof your flesh.For justas you presentedyour membersas slavesto impurityand to lawlessness,resultingin [further] lawlessness,sonowpresentyour membersas slavesto righteousness,resultingin sanctification.
Whatshall we saythen?Is the Lawsin?May it neverbe! On the contrary,I would not have come to knowsinexceptthroughthe Law;for I would not have known aboutcovetingifthe Lawhad not said,"YOU SHALL NOT COVET."
Whatthenshall we sayto these things?IfGod[is] for us, who[is] againstus?
Whatshall we saythen?That Gentiles,who did not pursuerighteousness,attainedrighteousness,eventhe righteousnesswhich is by faith;
Iffrom humanmotivesI fought with wild beastsat Ephesus,whatdoes it profitme? Ifthe deadare not raised,LET US EATAND DRINK,FOR TOMORROWWE DIE.
I am not speakingthese thingsaccordingto human judgment,am I? Ordoes not the Lawalsosaythese things?
but in everythingcommendingourselvesas servantsof God,in muchendurance,in afflictions,in hardships,in distresses,
For beholdwhatearnestnessthisvery thing,thisgodlysorrow,has producedin you: whatvindicationof yourselves, whatindignation,whatfear,whatlonging,whatzeal,whatavenging of wrong!In everythingyou demonstratedyourselvesto be innocentin the matter.
"For ifI rebuildwhatI have [once] destroyed,I provemyselfto be a transgressor.
Brethren,I speakin termsof humanrelations:even thoughit is [only] a man'scovenant,yetwhen it has been ratified,no onesets it asideoradds conditionsto it.
And they sangthe songof Moses,the bond-servantof God,and the songof the Lamb,saying,"Greatand marvelousare Your works,O LordGod,the Almighty;Righteousand true are Your ways,Kingof the nations!
"Rejoiceoverher, O heaven,and you saintsand apostlesand prophets,becauseGodhas pronouncedjudgmentfor you againsther."
