1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted according to grace but according to debt.5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted unto righteousness,6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God accounts righteousness apart from works:7 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;8 blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not account sin.9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.10 How then was it accounted? While he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those believing through uncircumcision, that righteousness might be accounted to them also;12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham while still uncircumcised.13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise has been annulled,15 because the Law brings about wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there transgression.16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, 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 all17 (as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations) in the presence of Him whom he believed; God, who makes the dead alive and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;18 who, against hope, believed in hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, So shall your seed be.19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarahs womb;20 he did not hesitate at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,21 and being fully assured that what He had promised He is also able to perform.22 And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was accounted to him,24 but also for us, to whom it shall be accounted, believing in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,25 who was delivered up because of our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
1 What thanne schulen we seie, that Abraham oure fadir aftir the flesch foond?2 For if Abraham is iustified of werkis of the lawe, he hath glorie, but not anentis God.3 For what seith the scripture? Abraham bileued to God, and it was arettid to him to riytwisnesse.4 And to hym that worchith mede is not arettid bi grace, but bi dette.5 Sotheli to hym that worchith not, but bileueth in to hym that iustefieth a wickid man, his feith is arettid to riytwisnesse, aftir the purpos of Goddis grace.6 As Dauid seith the blessidnesse of a man, whom God acceptith, he yyueth to hym riytwisnesse with outen werkis of the lawe,7 Blessid ben thei, whos wickidnessis ben foryouun, and whos synnes ben hid.8 Blessid is that man, to whom God arettide not synne.9 Thanne whether dwellith this blisfulnesse oneli in circumcisioun, or also in prepucie? For we seien, that the feith was arettid to Abraham to riytwisnesse.10 Hou thanne was it arettid? in circumcisioun, or in prepucie? Not in circumcisioun, but in prepucie.11 And he took a signe of circumcisioun, a tokenyng of riytwisnesse of the feith which is in prepucie, that he be fadir of alle men bileuynge bi prepucie, that it be arettid also to hem to riytwisnesse;12 and that he be fadir of circumcisioun, not onely to hem that ben of circumcisioun, but also to hem that suen the steppis of the feith, which feith is in prepucie of oure fader Abraham.13 For not bi the lawe is biheest to Abraham, or to his seed, that he schulde be eir of the world, but bi the riytwisnesse of feith.14 For if thei that ben of the lawe, ben eiris, feith is distried, biheest is don awey.15 For the lawe worchith wraththe; for where is no lawe, there is no trespas, nethir is trespassyng.16 Therfor riytfulnesse is of the feith, that bi grace biheeste be stable to ech seed, not to that seed oneli that is of the lawe, but to that that is of the feith of Abraham, which is fadir of vs alle.17 As it is writun, For Y haue set thee fadir of many folkis, bifor God to whom thou hast bileued. Which God quykeneth deed men, and clepith tho thingis that ben not, as tho that ben.18 Which Abraham ayens hope bileuede in to hope, that he schulde be maad fader of many folkis, as it was seid to hym, Thus schal thi seed be, as the sterris of heuene, and as the grauel that is in the brenke of the see.19 And he was not maad vnstidfast in the bileue, nether he biheelde his bodi thanne nyy deed, whanne he was almost of an hundrid yeer, ne the wombe of Sare nyy deed.20 Also in the biheeste of God he doutide not with vntrist; but he was coumfortid in bileue,21 yyuynge glorie to God, witynge moost fulli that what euere thingis God hath bihiyt, he is myyti also to do.22 Therfor it was arettid to hym to riytwisnesse.23 And it is not writun oneli for him, that it was arettid to hym to riytwisnesse,24 but also for vs, to whiche it schal be arettid, that bileuen in him that reiside oure Lord Jhesu Crist fro deeth.25 Which was bitakun for oure synnes, and roos ayen for oure iustefiyng.