Romans 4

1 So then, what shall we say that Abraham had achieved, who is our father according to the flesh?

WHAT then shall we say that Abraham our father hath obtained by the flesh?

2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he would have glory, but not with God.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath cause for glorying; though not before God.

3 For what does Scripture say? “Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.”

For what doth the scripture say? Abraham truly believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness.

4 But for he who works, wages are not accounted according to grace, but according to debt.

Now to him that worketh, the reward is not brought to account as a favour, but as a debt.

5 Yet truly, for he who does not work, but who believes in him who justifies the impious, his faith is reputed unto justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.

But to him who doth not work, but believeth in him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned in account for righteousness.

6 Similarly, David also declares the blessedness of a man, to whom God brings justice without works:

As David also describeth the blessedness of that man, to whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered.

“Blessed are they whose unrighteousnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered up.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin.”

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will in nowise impute sin.”

9 Does this blessedness, then, remain only in the circumcised, or is it even in the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was reputed to Abraham unto justice.

This blessedness then, is it for the circumcision, or for the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness.

10 But then how was it reputed? In circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

How then was it imputed to him? when circumcised, or while uncircumcised? Not when circumcised, but whilst uncircumcised.

11 For he received the sign of circumcision as a symbol of the justice of that faith which exists apart from circumcision, so that he might be the father of all those who believe while uncircumcised, so that it might also be reputed to them unto justice,

And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had when uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all those who believe, though uncircumcised; that to them also the righteousness might be imputed:

12 and he might be the father of circumcision, not only for those who are of circumcision, but even for those who follow the footsteps of that faith which is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.

and the father of circumcision, not to those who are of the circumcision merely, but who also tread in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he exercised while uncircumcised.

13 For the Promise to Abraham, and to his posterity, that he would inherit the world, was not through the law, but through the justice of faith.

For not by the law came the promise to Abraham and his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but by the righteousness of faith.

14 For if those who are of the law are the heirs, then faith becomes empty and the Promise is abolished.

For if they who are of the law are heirs, faith becomes vain, and the promise is useless:

15 For the law works unto wrath. And where there is no law, there is no law-breaking.

for the law causeth wrath: for where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

16 Because of this, it is from faith according to grace that the Promise is ensured for all posterity, not only for those who are of the law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all before God,

Therefore it is by faith, that it might be of grace; in order that the promise might be secured 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 in whom he believed, who revives the dead and who calls those things that do not exist into existence. For it is written: “I have established you as the father of many nations.”

(as it is written “that I have constituted thee father of many nations,”) before God, in whom he trusted, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth things that are not as if existing.

18 And he believed, with a hope beyond hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was said to him: “So shall your posterity be.”

Who contrary to hope, in hope believed, that he should be the father of many nations, according to what was said, “So shall thy seed be.”

19 And he was not weakened in faith, nor did he consider his own body to be dead (though he was then almost one hundred years old), nor the womb of Sarah to be dead.

And not being weak in faith, he regarded not his own body now deadened, being about an hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarah’s womb:

20 And then, in the Promise of God, he did not hesitate out of distrust, but instead he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

for he disputed not against the promise of God with unbelief; but was mighty in faith, giving glory to God;

21 knowing most fully that whatever God has promised, he is also able to accomplish.

and enjoyed the fullest assurance, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And for this reason, it was reputed to him unto justice.

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now this has been written, that it was reputed to him unto justice, not only for his sake,

Now it was not written for his sake only, that it was imputed to him;

24 but also for our sake. For the same shall be reputed to us, if we believe in him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead,

but also for our sakes, to whom it will be imputed, if we believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 who was handed over because of our offenses, and who rose again for our justification.

who was delivered up for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.