1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our :forefather, according to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God. 3 For what saith the scripture? And he—Abraham—believed :God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly one, his :faith is reckoned for righteousness. 6 Even as David also pronounceth :blessing upon the man, to whom :God reckoneth righteousness apart from works, 7 saying,
Blessed they whose :iniquities are forgiven, And whose :sins are covered.
8 Blessed the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin.
9 Is this :blessing therefore upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To :Abraham the faith was reckoned for righteousness. 10 How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision: 11 and he received a sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which was through the uncircumcision: that he be father of all them that believe, through uncircumcision, that the righteousness might be reckoned to them; 12 and father of circumcision to them who not only are of circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of our :father Abraham’s :faith which he had in uncircumcision. 13 For not through law was the promise to :Abraham or to his :seed that he should be heir of the world, but through righteousness of faith. 14 For if they of the law are heirs, the faith is made empty and the promise is made void: 15 for the law worketh wrath; but where no law is, neither is transgression. 16 For this cause it is of faith, that it be according to grace; to the end that the promise be sure to all the seed; not to that only of the law, but to that also which is of Abraham’s faith (who is father of us all 17 as is written, [that], I have made thee father of many nations), before him whom he believed, God, who maketh alive the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they are. 18 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he become father of many nations, according to what had been spoken, So shall thy :seed be. 19 And without weakening in the faith he considered his own :body now as good as dead (being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of the womb of Sarah; 20 yet, looking unto the promise of :God, he doubted not through :unbelief, but waxed strong through :faith, giving glory to :God, 21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 Wherefore also it was reckoned to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned to him; 24 but for ours also, to whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our :Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up for our :trespasses, and was raised for our :justification.