Romans 4

1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?

What, then, may we say that Abraham, our father after the flesh, has got?

2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.

For if Abraham got righteousness by works, he has reason for pride; but not before God.

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

But what does it say in the holy Writings? And Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness.

4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.

Now, the reward is credited to him who does works, not as of grace but as a debt.

5 But to him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

But to him who without working has faith in him who gives righteousness to the evil-doer, his faith is put to his account as righteousness.

6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

As David says that there is a blessing on the man to whose account God puts righteousness without works, saying,

7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Happy are those who have forgiveness for their wrongdoing, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”

Happy is the man against whom no sin is recorded by the Lord.

9 Is this blessing then pronounced only on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

Is this blessing, then, for the circumcision only, or in the same way for those who have not circumcision? for we say that the faith of Abraham was put to his account as righteousness.

10 How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

How, then, was it judged? when he had circumcision, or when he had it not? Not when he had it, but when he did not have it:

11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.

And he was given the sign of circumcision as a witness of the faith which he had before he underwent circumcision: so that he might be the father of all those who have faith, though they have not circumcision, and so that righteousness might be put to their account;

12 He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.

And the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who keep to the way of that faith which our father Abraham had before he underwent circumcision.

13 For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

For God's word, that the earth would be his heritage, was given to Abraham, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.

For if they who are of the law are the people who get the heritage, then faith is made of no use, and the word of God has no power;

15 For the law produces wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

For the outcome of the law is wrath; but where there is no law it will not be broken.

16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

For this reason it is of faith, so that it may be through grace; and so that the word of God may be certain to all the seed; not only to that which is of the law, but to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

17 As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.

(As it is said in the holy Writings, I have made you a father of a number of nations) before him in whom he had faith, that is, God, who gives life to the dead, and to whom the things which are not are as if they were.

18 Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”

Who without reason for hope, in faith went on hoping, so that he became the father of a number of nations, as it had been said, So will your seed be.

19 Without being weakened in faith, he did not consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

And not being feeble in faith though his body seemed to him little better than dead (he being about a hundred years old) and Sarah was no longer able to have children:

20 Yet, looking to the promise of God, he did not waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,

Still, he did not give up faith in the undertaking of God, but was made strong by faith, giving glory to God,

21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.

And being certain that God was able to keep his word.

22 Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”

For which reason it was put to his account as righteousness.

23 Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone,

Now, it was not because of him only that this was said,

24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

But for us in addition, to whose account it will be put, if we have faith in him who made Jesus our Lord come back again from the dead,

25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

Who was put to death for our evil-doing, and came to life again so that we might have righteousness.