Romans 4
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found?
What then shall we say that our father Abraham discovered, as a man?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he has whereof to glory; but not before God.
If Abraham was really justified by works, he has a boast—but not before God.
3 For what says the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
So what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
4 Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Now to him who works, the pay is not counted as a gift but as an obligation.
5 But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
6 Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works,
Just as David speaks of the blessing of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
“Blessed are they whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered up.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin!”
9 Comes this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? Since we say that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness,
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
how then was it credited? After he was circumcised or while still uncircumcised? Not circumcised, but uncircumcised!
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness from his faith while still uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all those who believe while uncircumcised, in order that this righteousness may be credited to them also,
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
and the father of the circumcised—not only those who are circumcised, but especially those who follow in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham while still uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Now the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham, or his seed, through law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect:
For if those who are of law are heirs, the faith is made empty and the promise has been invalidated;
15 Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
because the law produces wrath, since where there is no law neither is there transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; 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 reason it is of faith so that it may be according to grace, in order that the promise be guaranteed to all the seed—not only to those of law, but also to those of 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, ) before him whom he believed, even God, who replenishes life to the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were.
just as it is written: “I have made you a father of many ethnic nations”—in the presence of Him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead and calls the nonexistent things as though they did exist.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be.
Contrary to hope, Abraham in hope believed, so as to become a father of many ethnic nations, according to what had been spoken: “So shall your seed be.”
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (being about a hundred years old), or the deadness of Sarah's womb.
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
He did not waver at God's promise in unbelief; rather, he was strengthened by the faith, giving glory to God,
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
—that is why it was credited to him as righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Now it was not only for his sake that it was written that it was credited to him,
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, we who believe on Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
