| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? | 1What then can we say that Abraham, our physical ancestor, has found? |
| 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. | 2If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to brag about--but not before God. |
| 3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” | 3For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. |
| 4Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. | 4Now to the one who works, pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. |
| 5And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, | 5But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness. |
| 6just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: | 6Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works: |
| 7“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; | 7How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered! |
| 8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” | 8How joyful is the man the Lord will never charge with sin! |
| 9Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. | 9Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. |
| 10How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. | 10In what way then was it credited--while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. |
| 11He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, | 11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. |
| 12and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. | 12And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised. |
| 13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. | 13For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. |
| 14For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. | 14If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise is canceled. |
| 15For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. | 15For the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. |
| 16That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, | 16This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of Abraham's faith. He is the father of us all |
| 17as 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. | 17in God's sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. He believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. |
| 18In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” | 18He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. |
| 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. | 19He considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about 100 years old) and also considered the deadness of Sarah's womb, without weakening in the faith. |
| 20No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, | 20He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, |
| 21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. | 21because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. |
| 22That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” | 22Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. |
| 23But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, | 23Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, |
| 24but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, | 24but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. |
| 25who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. | 25He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. |
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