Romans 4
1 What then, it may be asked, are we to say about Abraham, the ancestor of our nation?
ⲁ̅ⲟⲩ ϭⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲁϫⲟⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ ϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ϫⲓⲛⲛ̅ϣⲟⲣⲡ̅ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅.
2 If he was pronounced righteous as the result of obedience, then he has something to boast of. Yes, but not before God.
ⲃ̅ⲉϣϫⲉⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲧⲙⲁⲓ̈ⲉⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲉϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧϥ̅ⲟⲩϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲛ.
3 For what are the words of scripture? “Abraham had faith in God, and his faith was regarded by God as righteousness.”
ⲅ̅ⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲅⲣⲁⲫⲏ ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲟⲡⲥ̅ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲩⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ·
4 Now wages are regarded as due to the person who works, not as a favour, but as a debt;
ⲇ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲣ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲇⲉ ⲉϣⲁⲩⲉⲡⲡⲉϥⲃⲉⲕⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁⲛ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲟⲩϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲟⲩⲙ̅ⲡϣⲁ.
5 while, as for the person who does not rely on their obedience, but has faith in him who can pronounce the godless righteous, their faith is regarded by God as righteousness.
ⲉ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛϥ̅ⲣ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲧⲧⲙⲁⲉⲓⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲥⲉⲃⲏⲥ ϣⲁⲩⲉⲡⲧⲉϥⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲩⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ.
6 In precisely the same way David speaks of the blessing pronounced on the person who is regarded by God as righteous apart from actions –
ⲋ̅ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲑⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲉϣⲁⲣⲉⲇⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ. ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛⲁⲱⲡ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ ⲁϫⲛ̅ⲛⲉϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ.
7 “Blessed are those whose wrongdoings have been forgiven and over whose sins a veil has been drawn!
ⲍ̅ϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ⲁⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲕⲱ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛⲉⲩⲁⲛⲟⲙⲓⲁ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϩⲱⲃⲥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉϫⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲩⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
8 Blessed the man whom the Lord will never regard as sinful!”
ⲏ̅ⲛⲁⲓ̈ⲁⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲁⲉⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁⲛ.
9 Is this blessing, then, pronounced on the circumcised only or on the uncircumcised as well? We say that – “Abraham’s faith was regarded by God as righteousness.”
ⲑ̅ⲡⲉⲓ̈ⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲥⲙⲟⲥ ϭⲉ ⲉϥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲉϫⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ. ϫⲛ̅ⲉϥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲉϫⲛ̅ⲧⲕⲉⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ. ⲧⲛ̅ϫⲱ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲉⲡⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲛ̅ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲩⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ.
10 Under what circumstances, then, did this take place? After his circumcision or before it?
ⲓ̅ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲟⲡⲥ̅ ϭⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛ̅ⲁϣ ⲛ̅ϩⲉ. ⲛⲉϥϩⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ ⲡⲉ. ϫⲛ̅ⲉϥϩⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ. ⲛⲉϥϩⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛⲉϥϩⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ.
11 Not after, but before. And it was as a sign of this that he received the rite of circumcision – to show the righteousness due to the faith of an uncircumcised man – in order that he might be the father of all who have faith in God even when uncircumcised, so that they also may be regarded by God as righteous;
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥϫⲓ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲛ̅ⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲫⲣⲁⲅⲓⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲉⲧϩⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ. ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ. ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲟⲡⲥ̅ ϩⲱⲟⲩ ⲟⲛ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ.
12 as well as father of the circumcised – to those who are not only circumcised, but who also follow our father Abraham in that faith which he had while still uncircumcised.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ. ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲛ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲁⲩ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛ̅ⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲉⲧⲁϩⲉ ⲉⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲉⲧϩⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ.
13 For the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his descendants through Law, but through the righteousness due to faith.
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲛ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ. ⲏ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲥⲡⲉⲣⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ.
14 If those who take their stand on Law are to inherit the world, then faith is robbed of its meaning and the promise comes to nothing!
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲉϣϫⲉⲉⲣⲉⲛⲉⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ. ⲉⲓ̈ⲉ ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲡⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲟⲩⲱⲥϥ̅.
15 Law entails punishment; but, where no Law exists, no breach of it is possible.
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲣ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲩⲟⲣⲅⲏ. ⲡⲙⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲙⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅. ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲁⲥⲓⲥ.
16 That is why everything is made to depend on faith: so that everything may be God’s gift, and in order that the fulfilment of the promise may be made certain for all Abraham’s descendants – not only for those who take their stand on the Law, but also for those who take their stand on the faith of Abraham. (He is the father of us all;
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲧⲉ. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲟⲩϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲡⲉⲣⲏⲧ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉϥⲧⲁϫⲣⲏⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲡⲉⲣⲙⲁ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̅. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲛ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲧⲉ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲉⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲛ̅ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲧⲏⲣⲛ̅.
17 as scripture says – “I have made you the father of many nations.”) And this they do in the sight of that God in whom Abraham had faith, and who gives life to the dead, and speaks of what does not yet exist as if it did.
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲥⲏϩ ϫⲉ ⲁⲓ̈ⲕⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲕ ⲛ̅ⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛ̅ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ. ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲛϩⲟ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲉⲧⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲉϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲁⲛ ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲩϣⲟⲟⲡ.
18 With no ground for hope, Abraham, sustained by hope, put faith in God; in order that, in fulfilment of the words – “So many will your descendants be,” he might become “the father of many nations.”
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲟⲩϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲥ ⲁϥⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲩϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲥ. ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛ̅ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϫⲟⲟϥ. ϫⲉ ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲡⲉⲕⲥⲡⲉⲣⲙⲁ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ.
19 Though he was nearly a hundred years old, yet his faith did not fail him, even when he thought of his own body, then utterly worn out, and remembered that Sarah was past bearing children.
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡϥ̅ϭⲃ̅ⲃⲉ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ. ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲉⲁϥⲕⲁϭⲟⲙ ⲉⲡⲧⲏⲣϥ̅ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲣ̅ⲁϣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲙⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲣⲣⲁ.
20 He was not led by want of faith to doubt God’s promise.
ⲕ̅ⲉⲡⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϥ̅ⲣ̅ϩⲏⲧ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲁϥϭⲙ̅ϭⲟⲙ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ. ⲉⲁϥϯⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
21 On the contrary, his faith gave him strength; and he praised God, in the firm conviction that what God has promised he is also able to carry out.
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲧⲱⲧ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ϭⲟⲙ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲁⲁϥ.
22 And therefore his faith “was regarded as righteousness.”
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲁⲩⲟⲡⲥ̅ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲩⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ.
23 Now these words – “it was regarded as righteousness” – were not written with reference to Abraham only;
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲥⲁϩϥ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲟⲡⲥ̅ ⲉⲣⲟϥ.
24 but also with reference to us. Our faith, too, will be regarded by God in the same light, if we have faith in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead;
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲛ̅ ϩⲱⲱⲛ ⲟⲛ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁⲟⲡⲥ̅ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ. ⲛⲉⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲟⲩⲛⲉⲥⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ
25 for Jesus was given up to death to atone for our offences, and was raised to life that we might be pronounced righteous.
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲉ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲡⲉⲛⲧⲙⲁⲉⲓⲟ.
