1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something of which to boast; but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 4Now to the one who works, his reward is not counted as a gift, but as his due. 5But to the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. 6Thus David speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not count against him. 9Is this blessedness upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised as well? for we say that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. 10How then was it credited? when he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all those who believe without being circumcised; that righteousness might be credited to them as well: 12And the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of the faith that our father Abraham had while he was yet uncircumcised. 13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not given to Abraham, or to his descendants, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if those who are of the law are heirs, then faith is made void, and the promise is made invalid: 15Because the law brings wrath: but where there is no law, there is no transgression. 16Therefore it is by faith, that it might be by grace; so that the promise might be certain to all his descendants; not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17(As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him in whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead, and calls into being those things which are not. 18Against all hope he believed, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your descendants be. 19And he did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, now as good as dead, for he was about a hundred years old, or the deadness of Sarah's womb: 20He did not waver through unbelief in the promise of God; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21And was fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22And therefore it was credited to him as righteousness. 23Now it was not for him alone that these words were written, It was credited to him; 24But also for us. It shall be credited to those of us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered to death for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.