Romans 4

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

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

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

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

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

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

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

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

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

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

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

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

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

[Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

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

Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute 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:

[Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

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

How was it then reckoned? when he was 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, —

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

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 the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which [he had] being [yet] uncircumcised.

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, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness 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 they which are of the law [be] heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

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

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression.

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, —

Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure 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 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: —

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, ) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

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; —

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed 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 being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:

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,

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

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

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

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

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

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

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

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 for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord 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 delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.