RobH_en_tn/rom/09/32.md

Why not?

This is an ellipsis. You can include the implied words in your translation. Paul asks this question to get the attention of his readers. Alternate translation: "Why could they not attain righteousness?" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion)

by works

This refers to things that people do to try to please God. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "by trying to do things that would please God" or "by keeping the Law" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)