Romans 4

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

What then shall we say—as touching Abraham our forefather?

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

For, if Abraham by works was declared righteous, he hath whereof to boast; —nevertheless, not towards God, —

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

For what doth the Scripture say? And Abraham believed in God, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.

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

Now, unto him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned by way of favour but by way of obligation,

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

Whereas, unto him that worketh not but believeth on him that declareth righteous the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

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

Just as David also affirmeth the happiness of the man unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works: —

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

Happy, they whose lawlessnesses have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered,

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

Happy, the man whose sin the Lord will in nowise reckon.

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.

This happiness, then, [is it] for the circumcision, or for the uncircumcision? for we say—His faith was reckoned unto Abraham 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 reckoned? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision;

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, a sign, he received [namely] of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while yet uncircumcised; to the end he might be father of all that believe during uncircumcision, to the end [the same] righteousness might be reckoned unto them, —

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 father of circumcision—unto them who are not of circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of the faith, while yet uncircumcised, of our father Abraham.

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 means of law, doth the promise belong unto Abraham or unto his seed, —that he should be heir of the world; but, through a righteousness by 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 law are heirs, made void is faith and of no effect is the promise.

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

For, the law, worketh out anger, but, where there is no law, neither is there 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.

For this cause, it is by faith, in order that it may be by way of favour, so that the promise is firm unto all the seed, —not unto that by the law only, but unto that also [which is such] by the faith of Abraham; who is 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.

Even as it is written—Father of many nations, have I appointed thee: before him whom he believed—God, who causeth the dead to live, and calleth the things that are not as things that are: —

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, past hope, upon hope believed, so that he became father of many nations, —according to what had been said—So shall be thy seed; —

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, without becoming weak in his faith, he attentively considered his own body, already deadened—he being a hundred years old, the deadening also 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,

In respect, however, of the promise of God, he was not led to hesitate by unbelief, but received power by his faith, giving glory unto God,

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

And being fully persuaded (that), —what he hath promised, able is he also to perform:

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

Wherefore [also], it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.

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

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was reckoned unto him,

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—unto whom it is to be reckoned, —even unto them that believe upon him who raised Jesus our Lord from among the dead:

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

Who was delivered up on account of our offences and was raised on account of the declaring us righteous.