Romans 4

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

What advantage then shall we say that Abraham our father had as to the flesh?

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

For if Abraham was accepted as righteous through works, he hath ground of boasting. But he hath no ground of boasting before God.

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

For what saith the scripture? “Abraham had faith in God, and it was accounted unto him as righteousness.”

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

Now to him that performeth works, the reward is not accounted a matter of grace, but of 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 performing works hath faith in him who accepteth as righteous one that hath been ungodly, his faith is accounted as righteousness;

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

as David also speaketh of the blessedness of the man whom God accepteth as righteous without works:

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

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

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

Blessed is the man whom the Lord shall not charge with sin.”

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.

Doth this blessedness belong to the circumcised alone, or to the uncircumcised also? For we are saying that Abraham's faith was accounted 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 so accounted? After his circumcision, or while he was uncircumcised? Not after he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised.

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 received the outward sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all the uncircumcised who have faith, so that righteousness might be put to their account also;

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 that he might be the father of the circumcised, who are not circumcised merely, but who tread in the steps of that faith which our father Abraham had while yet uncircumcised.

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 not through the Law was the promise made to Abraham or his offspring that he should be the heir of the world, 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 that are of the Law are heirs, then faith becometh a vain thing, and the promise is made of no effect.

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

For the Law is the cause of wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

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.

Therefore the inheritance was made to depend on faith, that it might be a matter of grace; that the promise might be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is under the Law, but to that also which hath 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 written, “I have made thee a father of many nations”) in the sight of that God whom he believed, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though 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.”

For he had confident hope in that which was past hope, that he should become a father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, “Thus shall thy offspring 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 weak in faith, he regarded not his own body which had become dead, he being about a hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarah's womb;

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

nor did he waver in respect to the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

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

being fully convinced, that what he hath promised, he is able also to perform.

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

And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.

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

And that it was so accounted was not written for his sake alone,

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 our sakes also, to whom it will be so accounted through our faith in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

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

who was delivered up on account of our trespasses, and raised from the dead that we might be accepted as righteous.