Romans 5

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

1God has made us right with him because we trust him. So now we have peace with God. This comes through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

2Jesus brought us in to God's kindness, and we trust him. We stand safe in that kindness. And we are glad as we wait to share God's greatness.

3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

3That is not all. We are glad even in hard times. We know that hard times teach us to keep going.

4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

4Keeping on makes us strong and good inside. And being strong inside makes us sure of what is coming.

NoteThe old word "experience" here does not mean having done something before. It means the strong, tested character that grows in a person.

5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

5Being sure like this will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he gave to us.

6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

6We had no strength to help ourselves. At just the right time, Christ died for people who lived far from God.

7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

7Almost no one would die for a person who does what is right. Maybe someone would be brave enough to die for a very good person.

8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

8But God shows us how much he loves us. Christ died for us while we were still doing wrong.

9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

9Jesus died and gave his blood, and that made us right with God. So he will surely save us from God's anger too.

10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

10Once we were God's enemies. His Son died, and that made us friends with God again. Now that we are his friends, his life will surely save us.

11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

11That is not all. We are full of joy in God. This comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who made us friends with God again.

NoteThe old word "atonement" meant being made friends again after a fight. That is what it means here.

12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

12Sin came into the world through one man, Adam. Death came along with sin. So death came to every person, because every person has sinned.

13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

13Sin was in the world before God gave his rules to Moses. But sin is not counted against people when there is no rule.

14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

14Even so, death ruled over people from Adam until Moses. It ruled even over people who did not sin the way Adam did. Adam was a picture of the one who would come later.

Note"Figure" in the old wording means a picture or pattern. Adam points ahead to Jesus.

15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

15God's free gift is not like Adam's wrong. Many people died because of one man's wrong. But God's kindness is far greater. He gave a gift through one man, Jesus Christ, to many people.

16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

16The gift is not like what came from the one man's sin. One sin brought the word "guilty." But the free gift came after many sins, and it makes people right with God.

17For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

17Death ruled because of one man's wrong. God gives much more than that: his kindness and the gift of being right with him. People who take that gift will live and rule through one man, Jesus Christ.

18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

18One wrong act brought guilt to all people. In the same way, one right act brings all people the free gift of being made right and living.

19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

19One man did not obey, and so many people became sinners. One man did obey, and so many people will be made right with God.

20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

20Then God gave his rules, and wrongdoing showed up even more. But where sin grew big, God's kindness grew much bigger.

21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

21Sin ruled, and it brought death. Now God's kindness rules by making people right with him. It brings life that never ends, through Jesus Christ our Lord.