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

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?

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

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

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

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

4 B ut unto him that works, the reward is not reckoned as grace, but as debt.

Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. David Celebrates the Same Truth

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

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

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

just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

7 s aying, Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;

8 B lessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute sin.

Blessed is the man to whom the L ord shall not impute sin.” Abraham Justified Before Circumcision

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

Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

10 H ow was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.

11 A nd 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,

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,

12 t hat 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.

and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. The Promise Granted Through Faith

13 F or 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.

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

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

15 b ecause the law works wrath; for where there is no law, there is no rebellion either.

because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 T herefore 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,

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

17 ¶ 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.

(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” ) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

18 W ho 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.

who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

19 A nd 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;

And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

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

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

21 b eing fully persuaded that he was also powerful to do all that he had promised;

and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

22 t herefore, his faith was also attributed unto him as righteousness.

And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

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

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

24 b ut 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,

but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

25 w ho was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.

who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.