Romans 4

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Then what do we say about Abraham, the ancestor from whom we are descended physical y?	1 What shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh.
2 If Abraham had been justified because of what he had done, then he would have had something toboast about. But not before God:	2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God.
3 does not scripture say: Abraham put his faith in God and this was reckoned to him as uprightness?	3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.
4 Now, when someone works, the wages for this are not considered as a favour but as due;	4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace, but according to debt.
5 however, when someone, without working, puts faith in the one who justifies the godless, it is this faiththat is reckoned as uprightness.	5 But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.
6 David, too, says the same: he cal s someone blessed if God attributes uprightness to that person,apart from any action undertaken:	6 As David also termeth the blessedness of a man, to whom God reputeth justice without works:
7 How blessed are those whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is blotted out.	7 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 How blessed are those to whom the Lord imputes no guilt.	8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin.
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.	9 This blessedness then, doth it remain in the circumcision only, or in the uncircumcision also? For we say that unto Abraham faith was reputed to justice.
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;	10 How then was it reputed? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
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;	11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the justice of the faith, which he had, being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, being uncircumcised, that unto them also it may be reputed to justice:
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.	12 And might be the father of circumcision; not to them only, that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faithful, that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.
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.	13 For not through the law was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world; but through the justice of faith.
14 For if it is those who live by the Law who wil gain the inheritance, faith is worthless and the promise iswithout force;	14 For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, the promise is made of no effect.
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.	15 For the law worketh wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
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	16 Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm 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,
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.	17 (As it is written: I have made thee a father of many nations,) before God, whom he believed, who quickeneth the dead; and calleth those things that are not, as those that are.
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.	18 Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be.
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.	19 And he was not weak in faith; neither did he consider his own body now dead, whereas he was almost an hundred years old, nor the dead womb of Sara.
20 Counting on the promise of God, he did not doubt or disbelieve, but drew strength from faith and gaveglory to God,	20 In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust; but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God:
21 ful y convinced that whatever God promised he has the power to perform.	21 Most fully knowing, that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform.
22 This is the faith that was reckoned to him as uprightness.	22 And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice.
23 And the word 'reckoned' in scripture applies not only to him;	23 Now it is not written only for him, that it was reputed to him unto justice,
24 it is there for our sake too -- our faith, too, wil be 'reckoned'	24 But also for us, to whom it shall be reputed, if we believe in him, that raised up Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the dead,
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.	25 Who was delivered up for our sins, and rose again for our justification.