Romerne 4
1 Hvad skal vi da si at vår far Abraham har opnådd efter kjødet?
Let's take Abraham as an example. From a human viewpoint he is the father of our nation. Let's ask, “What was his experience?”
2 For blev Abraham rettferdiggjort av gjerninger, da har han noget å rose sig av. Men det har han ikke for Gud;
For if Abraham was set right by what he did, he would have had something to boast about—but not in God's eyes.
3 for hvad sier Skriften? Abraham trodde Gud, og det blev regnet ham til rettferdighet;
However, what does Scripture say? “Abraham trusted God, and so he was considered as being a good person who did right.”
4 men den som har gjerninger, ham tilregnes lønnen ikke av nåde, men som skyldighet;
Whoever works gets paid—it's not considered as a gift, but because they've earned their wages.
5 den derimot som ikke har gjerninger, men tror på ham som rettferdiggjør den ugudelige, ham regnes hans tro til rettferdighet.
But God, who makes sinners right, considers them as right not because they've worked for it but because they trust in him. This is why
6 Således priser også David det menneske salig som Gud tilregner rettferdighet uten gjerninger:
David speaks of the happiness of those whom God considers as right, and not because they worked for it:
7 Salige er de hvis overtredelser er forlatt, og hvis synder er skjult,
“How happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 salig er den mann som Herren ikke tilregner synd.
How happy are those the Lord does not consider sinful.”
9 Gjelder nu denne saligprisning de omskårne, eller også de uomskårne? Vi sier jo at troen blev regnet Abraham til rettferdighet;
Now is this blessing just for the Jews, or is it for others too? We've just stated that Abraham was accepted as good and right because he trusted God.
10 hvorledes blev den da tilregnet ham? da han var omskåret, eller da han hadde forhud? Ikke da han var omskåret, men da han hadde forhud,
But when did this happen? When Abraham was a Jew or before?
11 og han fikk omskjærelsens tegn som et segl på rettferdigheten ved den tro som han hadde da han var uomskåret, forat han skulde være far til alle de uomskårne som tror, så rettferdigheten kunde tilregnes også dem,
It was actually before he became a Jew by being circumcised, which was a confirmation of his trust in God to make him right. This happened before he was circumcised, so he is the father of everyone who trusts in God and are considered as right by God, even though they may not be circumcised Jews.
12 og far til de omskårne som ikke bare har omskjærelsen, men også vandrer i fotsporene av den tro som vår far Abraham hadde da han var uomskåret.
He is also the father of circumcised Jews not merely because they're circumcised, but because they follow the example of the trust in God our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 For ikke ved loven fikk Abraham eller hans ætt det løfte at han skulde være arving til verden, men ved troens rettferdighet.
God's promise to Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him was not based on his keeping of the law, but because he was made right through his trust in God.
14 For dersom de som holder sig til loven, er arvinger, da er troen blitt unyttig, og løftet blitt til intet;
For if the promised inheritance is based on keeping the law, then the issue of trusting God is not necessary, and the promise is pointless.
15 for loven virker vrede; men hvor det ikke er nogen lov, er det heller ingen overtredelse.
For the law results in punishment—but if there's no law then it cannot be broken.
16 Derfor fikk han løftet ved troen, forat det kunde være som en nåde, så løftet kunde stå fast for hele ætten, ikke bare for den som har loven, men også for den som har Abrahams tro, han som er far til oss alle
So the promise is based on trusting God. It is provided as a free gift, guaranteed to all the children of Abraham—not merely to those who follow the law, but also to those who trust like Abraham, the father of us all.
17 - som skrevet er: Til mange folks far har jeg satt dig - for Guds åsyn, hvem han trodde, han som gjør de døde levende og nevner det som ikke er til, som om det var til.
As Scripture says, “I've made you the father of many nations.” For in the presence of God, Abraham trusted in the God who makes the dead alive and speaks into existence what didn't previously exist.
18 Mot håp trodde han med håp, forat han skulde bli mange folks far efter det som sagt var: Så skal din ætt bli;
Against all hope Abraham in hope trusted God, so he could become the father of many peoples, just as God had promised him: “This is how many descendants you'll have!”
19 og uten å bli svak i troen så han på sitt eget legeme, som var utlevd, han var næsten hundre år gammel, og på Saras utdødde morsliv;
His trust in God didn't weaken even though he thought his body was practically dead (he was around a hundred years old), and knew that Sarah was too old to have children.
20 på Guds løfte tvilte han ikke i vantro, men blev sterk i sin tro, idet han gav Gud æren
He held on to God's promise—he didn't doubt it. Instead his trust in God grew stronger, and he gave glory to God.
21 og var fullt viss på at det han hadde lovt, det var han også mektig til å gjøre.
He was totally convinced that what God had promised he had the power to deliver.
22 Derfor blev det også regnet ham til rettferdighet.
That's why Abraham was considered right by God.
23 Men ikke bare for hans skyld er det skrevet at det blev tilregnet ham,
The words “Abraham was considered right” weren't just written down for his benefit.
24 men også for vår skyld, som det vil bli tilregnet, vi som tror på ham som opvakte Jesus, vår Herre, fra de døde,
They were for us too, those of us who will be considered as right, since we trust in God who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.
25 han som blev gitt for våre overtredelser og opreist til vår rettferdiggjørelse.
Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins, and was raised to life to make us right.
