Doesn’t the fact that we are wrong prove more clearly that God is right? Then what can we say? Can we say that God is not fair when he brings his anger down on us? As you can tell, I am just using human ways of thinking.

我且照着人的常话说，我们的不义若显出神的义来，我们可以怎么说呢？神降怒，是他不义吗？

我姑且照着人的看法来说，我们的不义若显出上帝的义来，我们要怎么说呢？上帝降怒是他不义吗？

我姑且照着人的看法来说，我们的不义若显出神的义来，我们要怎么说呢？神降怒是他不义吗？

我姑且用人的观点说：“如果我们的不义可以反衬出上帝的公义，我们该做何论？上帝向我们发怒是祂不公正吗？”

我且照着人的见解来说，我们的不义若彰显神的义，我们可以说什么呢？难道降怒的神是不义的吗？

但是，如果我按人的意思来说，我们的不义可以显明神的义，那我们要怎么说呢？难道降震怒的神是不公正的吗？

我且照着人的常話說，我們的不義若顯出神的義來，我們可以怎麼說呢？神降怒，是他不義嗎？

我姑且照着人的看法來說，我們的不義若顯出上帝的義來，我們要怎麼說呢？上帝降怒是他不義嗎？

我姑且照着人的看法來說，我們的不義若顯出神的義來，我們要怎麼說呢？神降怒是他不義嗎？

我姑且用人的觀點說：「如果我們的不義可以反襯出上帝的公義，我們該做何論？上帝向我們發怒是祂不公正嗎？」

我且照著人的見解來說，我們的不義若彰顯神的義，我們可以說甚麼呢？難道降怒的神是不義的嗎？

但是我們的不義倘若證明上帝的義來，那要怎麼講呢？難道說上帝顯義怒是不義麼？（我且照人的講法說話吧）。

但是，如果我按人的意思來說，我們的不義可以顯明神的義，那我們要怎麼說呢？難道降震怒的神是不公正的嗎？

我且依人而言、若我之不義彰上帝義、我將何言、上帝降怒為不義乎、

我今所言者、藉人言耳、曰、我不義、益彰上帝之義、吾何以稱之哉、如是而上帝施刑、豈義乎、

我今且按人言言之曰、若我儕之不義、顯彰天主之義、則何言哉、天主施刑、可謂其不義乎、

曰：若人之不義、適足彰天主之義、則就人情言之、吾將何說、豈主之譴怒為不義乎？

But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us?( I am using a human argument.)

But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?( I speak in a human way.)

“ But,” some might say,“ our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?”( This is merely a human point of view.)

But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I am using a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He?( I am speaking from a human viewpoint.)

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath?( I speak as a man.)

But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath?( I speak after the manner of men.)

But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I use a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say?[ Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance?( I speak as a man)

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he?( I am speaking in human terms.)

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

Because you are human, you find this hard to understand. So I am using an everyday example to help you understand. You used to give yourselves to be slaves to unclean living. You were becoming more and more evil. Now give yourselves to be slaves to right living. Then you will become holy.

Brothers and sisters, let me give you an example from everyday life. No one can get rid of an official agreement between people. No one can add to it. It can’t be changed after it has been made. It is the same with God’s covenant agreement.

Do I say this only on human authority? The Law says the same thing.

“ Look! I am the One! There is no other God except me. I put some people to death. I bring others to life. I have wounded, and I will heal. No one can save you from my power.I raise my hand to heaven. Here is the promise I make. You can be sure that I live forever.And you can be just as sure that I will sharpen my flashing sword. My hand will hold it when I judge. I will get even with my enemies. I will pay back those who hate me.I will make my arrows drip with blood. My sword will destroy people. It will kill some. It will even kill prisoners. It will cut off the heads of enemy leaders.”You nations, be full of joy. Be joyful together with God’s people. The Lord will get even with his enemies. He will pay them back for killing those who serve him. He will wipe away the sin of his land and people.

What should we say about these things? What did Abraham, the father of our people, discover about being right with God?

But you are stubborn. In your heart you are not sorry for your sins. You are storing up anger against yourself. The day of God’s anger is coming. Then his way of judging fairly will be shown.

So God does what he wants to do. He shows mercy to one person and makes another stubborn.One of you will say to me,“ Then why does God still blame us? Who can oppose what he wants to do?”But you are a mere human being. So who are you to talk back to God? Scripture says,“ Can what is made say to the one who made it,‘ Why did you make me like this?’ ”( Isaiah 29:16; 45:9)

What should we say then? That the law is sinful? Not at all! Yet I wouldn’t have known what sin was unless the law had told me. The law says,“ Do not want what belongs to other people.”( Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21) If the law hadn’t said that, I would not have known what it was like to want what belongs to others.

My dear friends, don’t try to get even. Leave room for God to show his anger. It is written,“ I am the God who judges people. I will pay them back,”( Deuteronomy 32:35) says the Lord.

What should we say then? Should we keep on sinning so that God’s grace can increase?

What the law says, it says to those who are ruled by the law. Its purpose is to shut every mouth and make the whole world accountable to God.

Did I fight wild animals in Ephesus with nothing more than human hopes? Then what have I gotten for it? If the dead are not raised,“ Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die.”( Isaiah 22:13)

The Lord is a God who punishes. Since you are the one who punishes, come and show your anger.Judge of the earth, rise up. Pay back proud people for what they have done.

Someone might argue,“ When I lie, it becomes clearer that God is truthful. It makes his glory shine more brightly. Why then does he find me guilty of sin?”

Godly people will be glad when those who have hurt them are paid back. They will dip their feet in the blood of those who do evil.Then people will say,“ The godly will get their reward. There really is a God who judges the earth.”

God is fair. He will pay back trouble to those who give you trouble.He will help you who are troubled. And he will also help us. All these things will happen when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come in blazing fire. He will come with his powerful angels.He will punish those who don’t know God. He will punish those who don’t obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.They will be destroyed forever. They will be shut out of heaven. They will never see the glory of the Lord’s strength.

It is written,“ I chose Jacob instead of Esau.”( Malachi 1:2, 3)What should we say then? Is God unfair? Not at all!

Then I heard the angel who was in charge of the waters. He said,“ Holy One, the way you judge is fair. You are the God who is and who was.Those who worship the beast have poured out blood. They have poured out the life’s blood of your holy people and your prophets. So you have given blood to drink to those who worship the beast. That’s exactly what they should get.”Then I heard the altar reply. It said,“ Lord God who rules over all, the way you judge is true and fair.”

Who can stand firm when his anger burns? Who can live when he is angry? His anger blazes out like fire. He smashes the rocks to pieces.The Lord is good. When people are in trouble, they can go to him for safety. He takes good care of those who trust in him.But he will destroy Nineveh with a powerful flood. He will chase his enemies into the place of darkness.

They sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb. They sang,“ Lord God who rules over all, everything you do is great and wonderful. King of the nations, your ways are true and fair.

“ You heavens, be glad for this! You people of God, be glad! You apostles and prophets, be glad! God has judged her with the judgment she gave to you.”

God gave Christ as a sacrifice to pay for sins through the spilling of his blood. So God forgives the sins of those who have faith. God did all this to prove that he does what is right. He is a God of mercy. So he did not punish for their sins the people who lived before Jesus lived.God did all this to prove in our own time that he does what is right. He also makes right with himself those who believe in Jesus.

The Lord is a jealous God who punishes people. He pays them back for the evil things they do. He directs his anger against them. The Lord punishes his enemies. He holds his anger back until the right time to use it.

The created world was held back from fulfilling its purpose. But this was not the result of its own choice. It was planned that way by the one who held it back. God plannedto set the created world free. He didn’t want it to rot away. Instead, God wanted it to have the same freedom and glory that his children have.