Romans

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans, chapter 4, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 4 New English Translation

The Illustration of Justification

   1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter? 2 For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about - but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.
   6 So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
   7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
   8 blessed is the one against whom the LORD will never count sin."
   9 Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say, "faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness." 10 How then was it credited to him? Was he circumcised at the time, or not? No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised! 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them. 12 And he is also the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised.
   13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified. 15 For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either. 16 For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants - not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed - the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do. 18 Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, "so will your descendants be." 19 Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do. 22 So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
   23 But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham's sake, 24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our LORD from the dead. 25 He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.

King James Version

   1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
   2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
   3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
   4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
   5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
   6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
   7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
   8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
   9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
   10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
   11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
   12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
   13 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 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
   15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
   16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might 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 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
   18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
   19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
   20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
   21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
   22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
   23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
   24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
   25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.