1 W hat then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?

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

2 F or if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.

For if Abraham were justified by works, he has reason to glory in himself, but not before God.

3 F or what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

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

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

But unto him that works, the reward is not reckoned as grace, but as debt.

5 B ut to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.

But to him that does not work, but believes in him that justifies the ungodly, the faith is counted as righteousness.

6 E ven as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,

Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man unto whom God doth attribute righteousness without works,

7 s aying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.

saying, Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

8 B lessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute sin.

9 I s this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.

¶ Is this blessedness, therefore, only upon the circumcision or also upon the uncircumcision? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.

10 H ow 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 a nd he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them;

And he received the circumcision as a sign, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had, yet being uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all the uncircumcised believers, that it might be counted unto them also as righteousness,

12 a nd the father of circumcision to them 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.

that he be the father of the circumcision: not only to those who are of the circumcision, but also unto those who walk in the steps of the faith that was in our father Abraham before he was circumcised.

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

For if those who are of the law are the heirs, faith is in vain, and the promise annulled,

15 f or the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

because the law works wrath; for where there is no law, there is no rebellion either.

16 F or 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 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

Therefore by faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to that which is of the law, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

17 ( as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.

¶ as it is written, As a father of many Gentiles have I placed thee before God, whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which are not as those that are.

18 W ho in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Who believed to wait against all hope, that he might become the father of many Gentiles, according to that which had been spoken unto him, So shall thy seed be.

19 A nd without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb;

And he did not weaken in faith: he considered not his own body now dead when he was about one hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb;

20 y et, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,

he doubted not the promise of God, with unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

21 a nd being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

being fully persuaded that he was also powerful to do all that he had promised;

22 W herefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

therefore, his faith was also attributed unto him as righteousness.

23 N ow it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him;

¶ Now it is not written for his sake alone that it was so reckoned to him,

24 b ut for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

but for us also to whom it shall be so reckoned, that is, to those that believe in him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

25 w ho was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.