| King James Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? | 1What, then, are we to say about Abraham, our human ancestor? |
| 2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. | 2For if Abraham was justified by actions, he would have had something to boast about—though not before God. |
| 3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. | 3For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." |
| 4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. | 4Now to someone who works, wages are not considered a gift but an obligation. |
| 5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. | 5However, to someone who does not work, but simply believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. |
| 6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, | 6Likewise, David also speaks of the blessedness of the person whom God regards as righteous apart from actions: |
| 7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. | 7"How blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered! |
| 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. | 8How blessed is the person whose sins the Lord will never charge against him!" |
| 9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. | 9Now does this blessedness come to the circumcised alone, or also to the uncircumcised? For we say, "Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness." |
| 10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. | 10Under what circumstances was it credited? Was he circumcised or uncircumcised? He had not yet been circumcised, but was uncircumcised. |
| 11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: | 11Afterward he received the mark of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Therefore, he is the ancestor of all who believe while uncircumcised, in order that righteousness may be credited to them. |
| 12And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. | 12He is also the ancestor of the circumcised—those who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. |
| 13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. | 13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the Law, but through the righteousness produced by faith. |
| 14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: | 14For if those who were given the Law are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless, |
| 15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. | 15for the Law produces wrath. Now where there is no Law, neither can there be any violation of it. |
| 16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure 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, | 16Therefore, the promise is based on faith, so that it may be a matter of grace and may be guaranteed for all of Abraham's descendants—not only for those who were given the Law, but also for those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. |
| 17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. | 17As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations." Abraham acted in faith when he stood in the presence of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't yet exist. |
| 18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. | 18Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," just as he had been told: "This is how many descendants you will have." |
| 19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: | 19His faith did not weaken when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah's inability to have children, |
| 20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; | 20nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God, |
| 21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. | 21being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised. |
| 22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. | 22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." |
| 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; | 23Now the words "it was credited to him" were written not only for him |
| 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; | 24but also for us. Our faith will be regarded in the same way, if we believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. |
| 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. | 25He was sentenced to death because of our sins and raised to life to justify us. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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