What shall we conclude then? Are we any better ? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written:
   “There is no one righteous, not even one;       

there is no one who understands,
       no one who seeks God.   

All have turned away,
       they have together become worthless;
   there is no one who does good,
       not even one.”   

“Their throats are open graves;
       their tongues practice deceit.”
   “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”       

“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”   

 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;       

ruin and misery mark their ways,   

and the way of peace they do not know.”       

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

An oracle is within my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before his eyes.

For in his own eyes he flatters himself
too much to detect or hate his sin.

The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful;
he has ceased to be wise and to do good.

Even on his bed he plots evil;
he commits himself to a sinful course
and does not reject what is wrong.

Your love, O LORD , reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O LORD , you preserve both man and beast.

How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.

May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

See how the evildoers lie fallen-
thrown down, not able to rise!