Romans 4

1 What then shall we say—as touching Abraham our forefather?

So then, what shall we say that Abraham had achieved, who is our father according to the flesh?

2 For, if Abraham by works was declared righteous, he hath whereof to boast; —nevertheless, not towards God, —

For if Abraham was justified by works, he would have glory, but not with God.

3 For what doth the Scripture say? And Abraham believed in God, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.

For what does Scripture say? “Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.”

4 Now, unto him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned by way of favour but by way of obligation,

But for he who works, wages are not accounted according to grace, but according to debt.

5 Whereas, unto him that worketh not but believeth on him that declareth righteous the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Yet truly, for he who does not work, but who believes in him who justifies the impious, his faith is reputed unto justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.

6 Just as David also affirmeth the happiness of the man unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works: —

Similarly, David also declares the blessedness of a man, to whom God brings justice without works:

7 Happy, they whose lawlessnesses have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered,

“Blessed are they whose iniquities have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered.

8 Happy, the man whose sin the Lord will in nowise reckon.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin.”

9 This happiness, then, [is it] for the circumcision, or for the uncircumcision? for we say—His faith was reckoned unto Abraham as righteousness:

Does this blessedness, then, remain only in the circumcised, or is it even in the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was reputed to Abraham unto justice.

10 How, then, was it reckoned? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision;

But then how was it reputed? In circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And, a sign, he received [namely] of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while yet uncircumcised; to the end he might be father of all that believe during uncircumcision, to the end [the same] righteousness might be reckoned unto them, —

For he received the sign of circumcision as a symbol of the justice of that faith which exists apart from circumcision, so that he might be the father of all those who believe while uncircumcised, so that it might also be reputed to them unto justice,

12 And father of circumcision—unto them who are not of circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of the faith, while yet uncircumcised, of our father Abraham.

and he might be the father of circumcision, not only for those who are of circumcision, but even for those who follow the footsteps of that faith which is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.

13 For, not through means of law, doth the promise belong unto Abraham or unto his seed, —that he should be heir of the world; but, through a righteousness by faith.

For the Promise to Abraham, and to his posterity, that he would inherit the world, was not through the law, but through the justice of faith.

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

For if those who are of the law are the heirs, then faith becomes empty and the Promise is abolished.

15 For, the law, worketh out anger, but, where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

For the law works unto wrath. And where there is no law, there is no law-breaking.

16 For this cause, it is by faith, in order that it may be by way of favour, so that the promise is firm unto all the seed, —not unto that by the law only, but unto that also [which is such] by the faith of Abraham; who is father of us all, —

Because of this, it is from faith according to grace that the Promise is ensured for all posterity, not only for those who are of the law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all before God,

17 Even as it is written—Father of many nations, have I appointed thee: before him whom he believed—God, who causeth the dead to live, and calleth the things that are not as things that are: —

in whom he believed, who revives the dead and who calls those things that do not exist into existence. For it is written: “I have established you as the father of many nations.”

18 Who, past hope, upon hope believed, so that he became father of many nations, —according to what had been said—So shall be thy seed; —

And he believed, with a hope beyond hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was said to him: “So shall your posterity be.”

19 And, without becoming weak in his faith, he attentively considered his own body, already deadened—he being a hundred years old, the deadening also of Sarah’s womb;

And he was not weakened in faith, nor did he consider his own body to be dead (though he was then almost one hundred years old), nor the womb of Sarah to be dead.

20 In respect, however, of the promise of God, he was not led to hesitate by unbelief, but received power by his faith, giving glory unto God,

And then, in the Promise of God, he did not hesitate out of distrust, but instead he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

21 And being fully persuaded (that), —what he hath promised, able is he also to perform:

knowing most fully that whatever God has promised, he is also able to accomplish.

22 Wherefore [also], it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.

And for this reason, it was reputed to him unto justice.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was reckoned unto him,

Now this has been written, that it was reputed to him unto justice, not only for his sake,

24 But for our sakes also—unto whom it is to be reckoned, —even unto them that believe upon him who raised Jesus our Lord from among the dead:

but also for our sake. For the same shall be reputed to us, if we believe in him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead,

25 Who was delivered up on account of our offences and was raised on account of the declaring us righteous.

who was handed over because of our offenses, and who rose again for our justification.