Romans 4

1 What then shall we say concerning Abraham the patriarch, that by the flesh he obtained?

What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?

2 But if Abraham was justified by works, he had ground of glorying; yet not before God.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? That Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

4 But to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as a debt to him.

Now to the one who works, the pay is not counted as a gift, but as an obligation.

5 Whereas, to him that worketh not, but only believeth in him that justifieth sinners, his faith is accounted to him for righteousness.

But to him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

6 As David also speaketh of the blessedness of the man, to whom God reckoneth righteousness without works,

Even as David also pronounces blessing on the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,

7 saying: Blessed are they, whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose sins are covered up:

"Happy are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 and, Blessed is the man, to whom God will not reckon his sin.

Happy is the one whom the Lord will not charge with sin."

9 This blessedness, therefore, is it on the circumcision? or on the uncircumcision? For we say, that Abraham's faith was reckoned to him for righteousness.

Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.

10 How then was it reckoned to him? In circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

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

11 For he received circumcision, as the sign and the seal of the righteousness of his faith while in uncircumcision: that he might become the father of all them of the uncircumcision who believe; and that it might be reckoned to them also for righteousness:

He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, so that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be credited to them.

12 and the father of the circumcision; not to them only who are of the circumcision, but to them also who fulfill the steps of the faith of our father Abraham in his uncircumcision.

The father of circumcision to those 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 For the promise to Abraham and to his seed, that he should become the heir of the world, was not by the law, but by the righteousness of his faith.

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

14 For if they who are of the law were heirs, faith would be made void, and the promise of no force.

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

15 For the law is a worker of wrath; because where no law is, there is no transgression of law.

For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

16 Wherefore, it is by the faith which is by grace, that we are justified: so that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all:

For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the descendants, 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 written: " I have constituted thee a father to a multitude of nations;" namely before God, in whom thou hast believed; who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which are not, as if they were.

As it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations." This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.

18 And without hope, he confided in the hope of becoming the father of a multitude of nations; (as it is written: So will thy seed be.)

Who hoped in spite of hopeless circumstances, with the result that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "so will your descendants be."

19 And he was not sickly in his faith, while contemplating his inert body, (for he was a hundred years old, ) and the inert womb of Sarah.

And not being weak in faith, he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.

20 And he did not hesitate at the promise of God, as one lacking faith; but he was strong in faith, and gave glory to God;

Yet, looking to the promise of God, he did not waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,

21 and felt assured, that what God had promised to him, he was able to fulfill.

and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.

And therefore "it was credited to him as righteousness."

23 And not for his sake alone, was it written, that his faith was accounted for righteousness;

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

24 but for our sakes also; because it is to be accounted so to us, who believe in him that raised our Lord Jesus Messiah from the dead;

but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, who believe in him who raised Yeshua our Lord from the dead,

25 who was delivered up, on account of our sins; and arose, that he might justify us.

who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.