Romans 4

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

Then what shall we say that Abraham, our father according to the flesh, has found?

2 For if he was held to be righteous on the ground of his actions, he has something to boast of; but not in the presence of God.

For if Abraham were justified by works, he has glorification; but not before God.

3 For what says the Scripture? "And Abraham believed God, and this was placed to his credit as righteousness."

For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.

4 But in the case of a man who works, pay is not reckoned a favour but a debt;

But to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace, but according to debt;

5 whereas in the case of a man who pleads no actions of his own, but simply believes in Him who declares the ungodly free from guilt, his faith is placed to his credit as righteousness.

but to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.

6 In this way David also tells of the blessedness of the man to whose credit God places righteousness, apart from his actions.

Indeed David also speaks of the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,

7 "Blessed," he says, "are those whose iniquities have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered over.

Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

8 Blessed is the man of whose sin the Lord will not take account."

blessed is the man of whom the Lord may not impute sin.

9 This declaration of blessedness, then, does it come simply to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised as well? For Abraham's faith--so we affirm--was placed to his credit as righteousness.

Then does this blessedness come on the circumcision, or on the uncircumcision? for we say That faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness.

10 What then were the circumstances under which this took place? Was it after he had been circumcised, or before?

Then how was it imputed? to him, being in circumcision or uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 Before, not after. And he received circumcision as a sign, a mark attesting the reality of the faith-righteousness which was his while still uncircumcised, that he might be the forefather of all those who believe even though they are uncircumcised--in order that this righteousness might be placed to their credit;

And he received the sign of circumcision, and the seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had in uncircumcision: that he should be the father of all who believed, through uncircumcision; and righteousness should be imputed to them;

12 and the forefather of the circumcised, namely of those who not merely are circumcised, but also walk in the steps of the faith which our forefather Abraham had while he was as yet uncircumcised.

and the father of circumcision to them 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 Again, the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his posterity conditioned by Law, but by faith-righteousness.

For the promise to Abraham or his seed, that he should be the heir of the world, was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if it is the righteous through Law who are heirs, then faith is useless and the promise counts for nothing.

For if the heirs were by the law, faith has been made void, and the promise vitiated.

15 For the Law inflicts punishment; but where no Law exists, there can be no violation of Law.

For the law works out wrath: for where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16 All depends on faith, and for this reason--that acceptance with God might be an act of pure grace,

Therefore it is by faith, in order that it may be by grace; that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not only of the law, but also of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 so that the promise should be made sure to all Abraham's true descendants; not merely to those who are righteous through the Law, but to those who are righteous through a faith like that of Abraham. Thus in the sight of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is the forefather of all of us. As it is written, "I have appointed you to be the forefather of many nations."

as it has been written, That I have constituted thee the father of many nations, before God whom he believed, who quickens the dead, and calls things which are not as really existing:

18 Under utterly hopeless circumstances he hopefully believed, so that he might become the forefather of many nations, in agreement with the words "Equally numerous shall your posterity be."

who against hope confided in hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be:

19 And, without growing weak in faith, he could contemplate his own vital powers which had now decayed--for he was nearly 100 years old--and Sarah's barrenness.

and being not weak in faith, he considered not his body already dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 Nor did he in unbelief stagger at God's promise, but became mighty in faith, giving glory to God,

but he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was filled up with dynamite through faith, having given glory to God;

21 and being absolutely certain that whatever promise He is bound by He is able also to make good.

and being fully assured, that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform.

22 For this reason also his faith was placed to his credit as righteousness.

Therefore it was indeed imputed unto him for righteousness.

23 Nor was the fact of its being placed to his credit put on record for his sake only;

And it was not written on account of him alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 it was for our sakes too. Faith, before long, will be placed to the credit of us also who are believers in Him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead,

but on account of us also, to whom it is about to be imputed, who believe on him who raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead;

25 who was surrendered to death because of the offences we had committed, and was raised to life because of the acquittal secured for us.

who was delivered on account of our transgressions, and raised for our justification.