Romans 4

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered?

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

2 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before 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 credited to him as righteousness.”

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

4 Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.

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

5 However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

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

6 And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits 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 lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

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

8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

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

9 Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as 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 In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.

How, then, was it reckoned? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision;

11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited 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 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

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 his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by 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 live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

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

15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

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

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He 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.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

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 all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall 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 weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness 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 he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave 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 being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

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

22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

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

23 Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,

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

24 but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us 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 He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

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