^{1 Ref} What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?

^{2 Ref} For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.

^{3 Ref} For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

^{4 Ref} Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.

^{5 Ref} But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.

^{6 Ref} Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,

^{7 Ref} `saying', Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.

^{8 Ref} Blessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin.

^{9 Ref} Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.

^{10 Ref} How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:

^{11 Ref} and 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;

^{12 Ref} and 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.

^{13 Ref} For 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.

^{14 Ref} For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:

^{15 Ref} for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

^{16 Ref} 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 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 Ref} (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.

^{18 Ref} Who 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.

^{19 Ref} And 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;

^{20 Ref} yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,

^{21 Ref} and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

^{22 Ref} Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

^{23 Ref} Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him;

^{24 Ref} but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

^{25 Ref} who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

^{1 Ref} What, then, may we say that Abraham, our father after the flesh, has got?

^{2 Ref} For if Abraham got righteousness by works, he has reason for pride; but not before God.

^{3 Ref} But what does it say in the holy Writings? And Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness.

^{4 Ref} Now, the reward is credited to him who does works, not as of grace but as a debt.

^{5 Ref} But to him who without working has faith in him who gives righteousness to the evil-doer, his faith is put to his account as righteousness.

^{6 Ref} As David says that there is a blessing on the man to whose account God puts righteousness without works, saying,

^{7 Ref} Happy are those who have forgiveness for their wrongdoing, and whose sins are covered.

^{8 Ref} Happy is the man against whom no sin is recorded by the Lord.

^{9 Ref} Is this blessing, then, for the circumcision only, or in the same way for those who have not circumcision? for we say that the faith of Abraham was put to his account as righteousness.

^{10 Ref} How, then, was it judged? when he had circumcision, or when he had it not? Not when he had it, but when he did not have it:

^{11 Ref} And he was given the sign of circumcision as a witness of the faith which he had before he underwent circumcision: so that he might be the father of all those who have faith, though they have not circumcision, and so that righteousness might be put to their account;

^{12 Ref} And the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who keep to the way of that faith which our father Abraham had before he underwent circumcision.

^{13 Ref} For God's word, that the earth would be his heritage, was given to Abraham, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

^{14 Ref} For if they who are of the law are the people who get the heritage, then faith is made of no use, and the word of God has no power;

^{15 Ref} For the outcome of the law is wrath; but where there is no law it will not be broken.

^{16 Ref} For this reason it is of faith, so that it may be through grace; and so that the word of God may be certain to all the seed; not only to that which is of the law, but to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

^{17 Ref} (As it is said in the holy Writings, I have made you a father of a number of nations) before him in whom he had faith, that is, God, who gives life to the dead, and to whom the things which are not are as if they were.

^{18 Ref} Who without reason for hope, in faith went on hoping, so that he became the father of a number of nations, as it had been said, So will your seed be.

^{19 Ref} And not being feeble in faith though his body seemed to him little better than dead (he being about a hundred years old) and Sarah was no longer able to have children:

^{20 Ref} Still, he did not give up faith in the undertaking of God, but was made strong by faith, giving glory to God,

^{21 Ref} And being certain that God was able to keep his word.

^{22 Ref} For which reason it was put to his account as righteousness.

^{23 Ref} Now, it was not because of him only that this was said,

^{24 Ref} But for us in addition, to whose account it will be put, if we have faith in him who made Jesus our Lord come back again from the dead,

^{25 Ref} Who was put to death for our evil-doing, and came to life again so that we might have righteousness.