1What, then, shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, according to the flesh, has discovered about being right with God? 2For if, in fact, Abraham was justified by works (good deeds), he had something to glory in; but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Gen.15:6). 4Now to someone that works (labors), his reward is not regarded of grace, but of debt (something owed him). 5But to someone that does not trust in work, but trusts in Him Who justifies (forgives) sinners, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6Even as David also describes the blessedness of one, to whom God imputes (credits) righteousness apart from works, 7When David says, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” (Ps.32:1-2)

9Is this blessedness, then, only for the circumcised, or for the uncircumcised as well? For we say that Abraham’s faith was reckoned (or credited) to him for righteousness. 10How (or under what circumstances) was it then reckoned (or credited)? When he was in (after being) circumcised, or in uncircumcised? Not after circumcision, but (before) as uncircumcised. 11And he later received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had already received by faith while he was yet uncircumcised, in order that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed to (conferred upon) them also; 12And he is also the father of the circumcised, who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the footsteps of that faith that our father, Abraham, had while yet uncircumcised.

13For God’s promise to Abraham, that he and his offspring should be the heir of the world, was not based upon Abraham’s obedience to God’s law, but based upon the righteousness that comes from faith. 14For if those who depend upon the law are heirs, then faith is made unnecessary and void, and the promise is also made of no effect, 15Because the law also brings punishment; for where there is no law, there is no transgression. 16That is why the promise depends upon faith, that it might rest upon grace; and be offered to all the progeny of Abraham; not just to the adherents of the law, but also to those that share the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. 17As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”(Gen.17:5), in the presence of God, in Whom he believed, the God, Who gives life to the dead, and calls into existence (creates) things out of nothing, as though they always were; 18Against all hope, Abraham believed, that he might become the father of many nations, according to what he was told by God, ‘So shall your seed (offspring) be’(Gen.15:5). 19And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body as good as dead, when he was about a hundred years old, nor yet that Sarah's womb was essentially dead; 20He did not stagger (waver) in unbelief at the promise of God; but grew stronger in faith, giving glory to God, 21Being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was also able to perform (deliver). 22And that is why it was imputed (credited) to him as righteousness. 23Now those words, “it was credited to him”, were not written for him alone, 24But for us, also, to whom it shall be imputed (credited), if we believe in Him Who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was not just delivered to death for our sins, but was also raised to life again for our justification.