Romans 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?	1 What then can we say that Abraham found, our ancestor according to the flesh?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.	2 Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works, he has reason to boast; but this was not so in the sight of God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.	3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.	4 A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.	5 But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,	6 So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.	7 "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.	8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record."
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.	9 Does this blessedness apply only to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised as well? Now we assert that "faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness."
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.	10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was he circumcised or not? He was not circumcised, but uncircumcised.
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:	11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal on the righteousness received through faith while he was uncircumcised. Thus he was to be the father of all the uncircumcised who believe, so that to them (also) righteousness might be credited,
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.	12 as well as the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but also follow the path of faith that our father Abraham walked while still 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.	13 It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:	14 For if those who adhere to the law are the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.	15 For the law produces wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.
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,	16 For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us,
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.	17 as it is written, "I have made you father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist.
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.	18 He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "Thus shall your descendants 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:	19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body as (already) dead (for he was almost a hundred years old) and the dead womb of Sarah.
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;	20 He did not doubt God's promise in unbelief; rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to God
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.	21 and was fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.	22 That is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;	23 But it was not for him alone that it was written that "it was credited 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;	24 it was also for us, to whom it will be credited, who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.	25 who was handed over for our transgressions and was raised for our justification.