4:1 What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
4:1 What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh?

4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

4:3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
4:3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

4:4 Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due.
4:4 Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due.

4:5 And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.
4:5 But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

4:6 So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:
4:6 So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:

4:7 "Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
4:7 "Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

4:8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin."
4:8 blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin."

4:9 Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.
4:9 Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, "Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness."

4:10 How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.
4:10 How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.

4:11 He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them,
4:11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them,

4:12 and likewise the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but also follow the example of the faith which our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
4:12 and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but who also follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised.

4:13 The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
4:13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

4:14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
4:14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

4:15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
4:15 For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants -- not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all,
4:16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,

4:17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" -- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
4:17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations")--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

4:18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be."
4:18 Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "So numerous shall your descendants be."

4:19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.
4:19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.

4:20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
4:20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

4:21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
4:21 being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

4:22 That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness."
4:22 Therefore his faith "was reckoned to him as righteousness."

4:23 But the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone,
4:23 Now the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone,

4:24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
4:24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

4:25 who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
4:25 who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.