Romans 4

1 What, then, may we say that Abraham, our father after the flesh, has got?

What shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh.

2 For if Abraham got righteousness by works, he has reason for pride; but not before God.

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God.

3 But what does it say in the holy Writings? And Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.

4 Now, the reward is credited to him who does works, not as of grace but as a debt.

Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace, but according to debt.

5 But to him who without working has faith in him who gives righteousness to the evil-doer, his faith is put to his account as righteousness.

But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.

6 As David says that there is a blessing on the man to whose account God puts righteousness without works, saying,

As David also termeth the blessedness of a man, to whom God reputeth justice without works:

7 Happy are those who have forgiveness for their wrongdoing, and whose sins are covered.

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

8 Happy is the man against whom no sin is recorded by the Lord.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin.

9 Is this blessing, then, for the circumcision only, or in the same way for those who have not circumcision? for we say that the faith of Abraham was put to his account as righteousness.

This blessedness then, doth it remain in the circumcision only, or in the uncircumcision also? For we say that unto Abraham faith was reputed to justice.

10 How, then, was it judged? when he had circumcision, or when he had it not? Not when he had it, but when he did not have it:

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

11 And he was given the sign of circumcision as a witness of the faith which he had before he underwent circumcision: so that he might be the father of all those who have faith, though they have not circumcision, and so that righteousness might be put to their account;

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the justice of the faith, which he had, being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, being uncircumcised, that unto them also it may be reputed to justice:

12 And the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who keep to the way of that faith which our father Abraham had before he underwent circumcision.

And might be the father of circumcision; not to them only, that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faithful, that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.

13 For God's word, that the earth would be his heritage, was given to Abraham, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

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

14 For if they who are of the law are the people who get the heritage, then faith is made of no use, and the word of God has no power;

For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, the promise is made of no effect.

15 For the outcome of the law is wrath; but where there is no law it will not be broken.

For the law worketh wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

16 For this reason it is of faith, so that it may be through grace; and so that the word of God may be certain to all the seed; not only to that which is of the law, but to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm 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,

17 (As it is said in the holy Writings, I have made you a father of a number of nations) before him in whom he had faith, that is, God, who gives life to the dead, and to whom the things which are not are as if they were.

(As it is written: I have made thee a father of many nations, ) before God, whom he believed, who quickeneth the dead; and calleth those things that are not, as those that are.

18 Who without reason for hope, in faith went on hoping, so that he became the father of a number of nations, as it had been said, So will your seed be.

Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be.

19 And not being feeble in faith though his body seemed to him little better than dead (he being about a hundred years old) and Sarah was no longer able to have children:

And he was not weak in faith; neither did he consider his own body now dead, whereas he was almost an hundred years old, nor the dead womb of Sara.

20 Still, he did not give up faith in the undertaking of God, but was made strong by faith, giving glory to God,

In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust; but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God:

21 And being certain that God was able to keep his word.

Most fully knowing, that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform.

22 For which reason it was put to his account as righteousness.

And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice.

23 Now, it was not because of him only that this was said,

Now it is not written only for him, that it was reputed to him unto justice,

24 But for us in addition, to whose account it will be put, if we have faith in him who made Jesus our Lord come back again from the dead,

But also for us, to whom it shall be reputed, if we believe in him, that raised up Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the dead,

25 Who was put to death for our evil-doing, and came to life again so that we might have righteousness.

Who was delivered up for our sins, and rose again for our justification.