Universal Bondage to Sin.^* 9Well, then, are we better off? Not entirely, for we have already brought the charge against Jews and Greeks alike that they are all under the domination of sin,^f 10as it is written:^g

“There is no one just, not one,

11there is no one who understands,

there is no one who seeks God.

12All have gone astray; all alike are worthless;

there is not one who does good,

[there is not] even one.

13Their throats are open graves;

they deceive with their tongues;

the venom of asps is on their lips;^h

14their mouths are full of bitter cursing.ⁱ

15Their feet are quick to shed blood;^j

16ruin and misery are in their ways,

17and the way of peace they know not.

18There is no fear of God before their eyes.”^k

19Now we know that what the law^* says is addressed to those under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world stand accountable to God,^l 20since no human being will be justified in his sight^* by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin.^m