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

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

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

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

3 F or what does the Scripture say? “ Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

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

4 N ow to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.

5 B ut to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

6 j ust as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

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

7 “ Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

8 “ Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”

9 I s this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “ Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”

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

10 H ow then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;

How then was it counted? 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 uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,

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 those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.

12 a nd the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

He is 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 F or the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 F or if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;

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

15 f or the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

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

16 F or this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, 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,

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 offspring, 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, “ A father of many nations have I made you ”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

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 I n hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “ So shall your descendants be.”

Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”

19 W ithout becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;

Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

20 y et, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,

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

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

22 T herefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.

Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”

23 N ow not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,

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

24 b ut for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

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

25 H e who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

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