Romans 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?	1 Then what do we say about Abraham, the ancestor from whom we are descended physical y?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.	2 If Abraham had been justified because of what he had done, then he would have had something toboast about. But not before God:
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.	3 does not scripture say: Abraham put his faith in God and this was reckoned to him as uprightness?
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.	4 Now, when someone works, the wages for this are not considered as a favour but as due;
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.	5 however, when someone, without working, puts faith in the one who justifies the godless, it is this faiththat is reckoned as uprightness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,	6 David, too, says the same: he cal s someone blessed if God attributes uprightness to that person,apart from any action undertaken:
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.	7 How blessed are those whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is blotted out.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.	8 How blessed are those to whom the Lord imputes no guilt.
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 Is this blessing only for the circumcised, or is it said of the uncircumcised as wel ? Wel , we said ofAbraham that his faith was reckoned to him as uprightness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.	10 Now how did this come about? When he was already circumcised, or before he had beencircumcised? Not when he had been circumcised, but while he was still 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 circumcision was given to him later, as a sign and a guarantee that the faith which he had whilestill uncircumcised was reckoned to him as uprightness. In this way, Abraham was to be the ancestor of albelievers who are uncircumcised, so that they might be reckoned as upright;
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 ancestor of those of the circumcision who not only have their circumcision but who alsofol ow our ancestor Abraham along the path of faith that he trod before he was circumcised.
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 For the promise to Abraham and his descendants that he should inherit the world was not through theLaw, but through the uprightness of 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 it is those who live by the Law who wil gain the inheritance, faith is worthless and the promise iswithout force;
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.	15 for the Law produces nothing but God's retribution, and it is only where there is no Law that it ispossible to live without breaking the Law.
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 That is why the promise is to faith, so that it comes as a free gift and is secure for al thedescendants, not only those who rely on the Law but al those others who rely on the faith of Abraham, theancestor 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.	17 (as scripture says: I have made you the father of many nations). Abraham is our father in the eyes ofGod, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and cal s into existence what does not yet 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 Though there seemed no hope, he hoped and believed that he was to become father of many nationsin fulfilment of the promise: Just so wil 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 Even the thought that his body was as good as dead -- he was about a hundred years old -- and thatSarah's womb was dead too did not shake his faith.
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;	20 Counting on the promise of God, he did not doubt or disbelieve, but drew strength from faith and gaveglory to God,
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.	21 ful y convinced that whatever God promised he has the power to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.	22 This is the faith that was reckoned to him as uprightness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;	23 And the word 'reckoned' in scripture applies not only 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 is there for our sake too -- our faith, too, wil be 'reckoned'
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.	25 because we believe in him who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus who was handed over to deathfor our sins and raised to life for our justification.