Romans 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 What then can we say that Abraham found, our ancestor according to the flesh?	1 So then, what shall we say that Abraham had achieved, who is our father according to the flesh?
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.	2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he would have glory, but not with God.
3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."	3 For what does Scripture say? “Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.”
4 A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.	4 But for he who works, wages are not accounted according to grace, but according to debt.
5 But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.	5 Yet truly, for he who does not work, but who believes in him who justifies the impious, his faith is reputed unto justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.
6 So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:	6 Similarly, David also declares the blessedness of a man, to whom God brings justice without works:
7 "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.	7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered.
8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record."	8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin.”
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."	9 Does this blessedness, then, remain only in the circumcised, or is it even in the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was reputed to Abraham unto justice.
10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was he circumcised or not? He was not circumcised, but uncircumcised.	10 But then how was it reputed? In circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
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,	11 For he received the sign of circumcision as a symbol of the justice of that faith which exists apart from circumcision, so that he might be the father of all those who believe while uncircumcised, so that it might also be reputed to them unto justice,
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.	12 and he might be the father of circumcision, not only for those who are of circumcision, but even for those who follow the footsteps of that faith which is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.
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.	13 For the Promise to Abraham, and to his posterity, that he would inherit the world, was not through the law, but through the justice of faith.
14 For if those who adhere to the law are the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.	14 For if those who are of the law are the heirs, then faith becomes empty and the Promise is abolished.
15 For the law produces wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.	15 For the law works unto wrath. And where there is no law, there is no law-breaking.
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,	16 Because of this, it is from faith according to grace that the Promise is ensured for all posterity, not only for those who are of the law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all before God,
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.	17 in whom he believed, who revives the dead and who calls those things that do not exist into existence. For it is written: “I have established you as the father of many nations.”
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."	18 And he believed, with a hope beyond hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was said to him: “Thus shall your posterity shall be.”
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.	19 And he was not weakened in faith, nor did he consider his own body to be dead (though he was then almost one hundred years old), nor the womb of Sarah to be dead.
20 He did not doubt God's promise in unbelief; rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to God	20 And then, in the Promise of God, he did not hesitate out of distrust, but instead he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
21 and was fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do.	21 knowing most fully that whatever God has promised, he is also able to accomplish.
22 That is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."	22 And for this reason, it was reputed to him unto justice.
23 But it was not for him alone that it was written that "it was credited to him";	23 Now this has been written, that it was reputed to him unto justice, not only for his sake,
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,	24 but also for our sake. For the same shall be reputed to us, if we believe in him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead,
25 who was handed over for our transgressions and was raised for our justification.	25 who was handed over because of our offenses, and who rose again for our justification.