Romans 4

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

What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to 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 has something to boast about, but not before God.

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

For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

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

Now to the one who works, the pay is not counted as a gift, but as an obligation.

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 does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

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

Even as David also pronounces blessing on the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,

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

"Happy are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

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

Happy is the one whom the Lord will not charge with 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.

Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.

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

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

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,

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

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.

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.

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 the promise to Abraham and to his descendants that he should be heir of the world was not through the law, but through 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 those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.

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

For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

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,

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 descendants, 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.

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, "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.

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 hoped in spite of hopeless circumstances, with the result that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "so will your descendants 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 considered his own body, which was as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and 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,

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

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

and being fully assured 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 credited to him as 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 that it was credited to him for his sake alone,

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 for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, who believe in him who raised 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 trespasses, and was raised for our justification.