Romans 4

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW JERUSALEM
1 What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?	1 Then what do we say about Abraham, the ancestor from whom we are descended physical y?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, 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 does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."	3 does not scripture say: Abraham put his faith in God and this was reckoned to him as uprightness?
4 Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due.	4 Now, when someone works, the wages for this are not considered as a favour but as due;
5 And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as 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 So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from 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 "Blessed are those 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 against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin."	8 How blessed are those to whom the Lord imputes no guilt.
9 Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham as 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 then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.	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 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,	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 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.	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 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.	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 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.	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 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law 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 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,	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 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.	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 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."	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 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.	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 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave 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 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.	21 ful y convinced that whatever God promised he has the power to perform.
22 That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness."	22 This is the faith that was reckoned to him as uprightness.
23 But the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone,	23 And the word 'reckoned' in scripture applies not only to him;
24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,	24 it is there for our sake too -- our faith, too, wil be 'reckoned'
25 who was put to death for our trespasses and raised 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.