What then shall we say that Abraham, ¹our forefather ^aaccording to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified ¹by works, he has something to boast about; but ^anot ²before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “^aABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to the one who ^aworks, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but ^abelieves in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

9 Is this blessing then on ^1athe circumcised, or on ²the uncircumcised also? For ^bwe say, “^cFAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 10 How then was it credited? While he was ¹circumcised, or ²uncircumcised? Not while ³circumcised, but while ⁴uncircumcised; 11 and he ^areceived the sign of circumcision, ^ba seal of the righteousness of the faith which ¹he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be ^cthe father of ^dall who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which ¹he had while uncircumcised.

13 For ^athe promise to Abraham or to his ¹descendants ^bthat he would be heir of the world was not ²through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For ^aif those who are ¹of the Law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified; 15 for ^athe Law brings about wrath, but ^bwhere there is no law, there also is no violation.

16 For this reason it is ¹by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with ^agrace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to ^ball the ²descendants, not only to ³those who are of the Law, but also to ^4cthose who are of the faith of Abraham, who is ^dthe father of us all, 17 (as it is written: “I HAVE MADE YOU ^aA FATHER OF MANY NATIONS”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is, God, ^bwho gives life to the dead and ^ccalls into being ^dthings that do not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become ^aa father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “^bSO SHALL YOUR ¹DESCENDANTS BE.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now ^aas good as dead since ^bhe was about a hundred years old, and ^cthe deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, ^agiving glory to God, 21 and ^abeing fully assured that ^bwhat God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore ^aIT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now ^anot for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, to us ^awho believe in Him who ^braised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was ^adelivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was ^braised because of our justification.

What then shall we say that Abraham, ¹our forefather ^aaccording to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified ¹by works, he has something to boast about—but ^anot ²before God! 3 For what does the Scripture say? “^aABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to the one who ^aworks, his wage is not counted according to grace, but according to what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but ^abelieves upon Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

9 Therefore, is this blessing on ^1athe circumcised, or on ²the uncircumcised also? For ^bwe say, “^cFAITH WAS COUNTED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 10 How then was it counted? While he was ¹circumcised, or ²uncircumcised? Not while ³circumcised, but while ⁴uncircumcised; 11 and he ^areceived the sign of circumcision, ^ba seal of the righteousness of the faith which ¹he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be ^cthe father of ^dall who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which ¹he had while uncircumcised.

13 For ^athe promise to Abraham or to his seed ^bthat he would be heir of the world was not ¹through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For ^aif those who are ¹of the Law are heirs, faith has been made empty and the promise has been abolished; 15 for ^athe Law brings about wrath, but ^bwhere there is no law, there also is no trespass.

16 For this reason it is ¹by faith, in order that it may be according to ^agrace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to ^ball the seed, not only to ²those who are of the Law, but also to ^3cthose who are of the faith of Abraham, who is ^dthe father of us all— 17 as it is written, “^aA FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”—in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, ^bwho gives life to the dead and ^1ccalls into being ^dthat which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become ^aa father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “^bSO SHALL YOUR SEED BE.” 19 And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now ^aas good as dead since ^bhe was about a hundred years old, and ^cthe deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, ^agiving glory to God, 21 and ^abeing fully assured that ^bwhat God had promised, He was able also to do. 22 Therefore ^aIT WAS ALSO COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now ^anot for his sake only was it written THAT IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be counted, as those ^awho believe upon Him who ^braised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was ^adelivered over on account of our transgressions, and was ^braised on account of our justification.