The Entire World Guilty of Sin

9 What then? Do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 just as it is written,

• “There is no one righteous, not even one;
  • 11 there is no one who understands;
  • there is no one who seeks God.
• 12 All have turned aside together; they have become worthless;
  • There is no one who practices kindness;
  • there is not even one.[fn]
• 13 Their throat is an opened grave;
  • they deceive with their tongues;
• the venom of asps is under their lips,[fn]
  • 14 whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.[fn]
• 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
  • 16 destruction and distress are in their paths,
• 17 and they have not known the way of peace.[fn]
  • 18 The fear of God is not before their eyes.”[fn]

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, in order that every mouth may be closed and the whole world may become accountable to God. 20 For by the works of the law ⌊no person will be declared righteous⌋[fn] before him, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.