Romans 1

Paul introduces himself and declares that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. He argues that God's wrath is revealed against all ungodliness, because men suppress the truth and worship the creature rather than the Creator, and God gives them over to a reprobate mind.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,	Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God—
2	(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)	which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy scriptures—
3	Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;	concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was descended from David according to the flesh,
4	And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:	and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5	By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:	Through Him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about obedience of faith among all nations for His name's sake.
6	Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:	You also are among those who are called by Jesus Christ.
7	To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.	To all in Rome who are 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 you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.	First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of You, because Your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.
9	For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;	God is my witness — whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son — that without ceasing I mention You always in my prayers,
10	Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.	asking that somehow, by God's will, I may at last succeed in coming to You.
11	For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;	I long to see You, so that I may share some spiritual gift to strengthen You—
12	That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.	that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both Yours and mine.
13	Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.	I do not want You to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to You but have been hindered until now, so that I might have some fruit among You as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
14	I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.	I am under obligation both to Greeks and to non-Greeks, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15	So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.	So I am eager to preach the gospel to You also who are in Rome.
16	For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.	I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes — to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17	For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.	In it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written: "The just shall live by faith."
18	For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;	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 may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.	What can be known about God is plain to them, for God has shown it to them.
20	For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:	His invisible qualities — His eternal power and Godhead — have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, understood through what has been made. So they are without excuse.
21	Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.	Although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him. Their thinking became worthless, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22	Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,	Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
23	And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.	They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
24	Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:	Therefore God gave them over to the impure desires of their hearts, to dishonoring their bodies among themselves.
25	Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.	They 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 cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:	For this reason God gave them over to vile affections. Even their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature.
27	And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was met.	In the same way the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with desire for one another. Men committed shameful acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28	And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;	Since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them over to a corrupt mind to do things that should not be done.
29	Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,	They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,
30	Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,	slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil and disobey their parents.
31	Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:	They have no sense, break their covenants, have no natural affection, are implacable, and show no mercy.
32	Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.	Though they know God's decree — that those who do such things deserve death — they not only do them but approve of others who practice them.