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Romans 4
Modern English Version
Romans 4
Modern English Version
The Example of Abraham
4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our father according to the flesh, has found? 2 If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a]
4 Now to him who works, wages are not given as a gift, but as a debt. 5 But to him who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 Even David describes the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness without works:
7 “Blessed are those
whose iniquities are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man
to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”[b]
9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? We are saying that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it credited? When 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 that he had while being uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had while still being uncircumcised.
The Promise Received Through Faith
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his descendants received the promise that he would be the heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law become heirs, faith would be made void and the promise nullified, 15 because the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, there is no sin.
16 Therefore the promise comes through faith, so that it might be by grace, that the promise would be certain to all the 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”[c]) before God whom he believed, and who raises the dead, and calls those things that do not exist as though they did.
18 Against all hope, he believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”[d] 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body to be dead (when he was about a hundred years old), nor yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able to perform. 22 Therefore “it was credited to him as righteousness.”[e] 23 Now the words, “it was credited to him,” were not written for his sake only, 24 but also for us, to whom it shall be credited if we believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered for our transgressions, and was raised for our justification.
Footnotes
Romans 4
Authorized (King James) Version
Romans 4
Authorized (King James) Version
4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when 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 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: 12 and 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. 13 For 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. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore 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, 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. 18 Who 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. 19 And 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: 20 he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 4
New King James Version
Romans 4
New King James Version
Abraham Justified by Faith(A)
4 What then shall we say that (B)Abraham our (C)father[a] has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was (D)justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? (E)“Abraham believed God, and it was [b]accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now (F)to him who works, the wages are not counted [c]as grace but as debt.
David Celebrates the Same Truth
5 But to him who (G)does not work but believes on Him who justifies (H)the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also (I)describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed(J) are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”
Abraham Justified Before Circumcision
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 circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And (K)he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that (L)he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed 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 which our father (M)Abraham had while still uncircumcised.
The Promise Granted Through Faith
13 For the promise that he would be the (N)heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For (O)if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because (P)the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be (Q)according to grace, (R)so that the promise might be [d]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, (S)who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, (T)“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, (U)who gives life to the dead and calls those (V)things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, (W)“So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, (X)he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), (Y)and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised (Z)He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore (AA)“it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
23 Now (AB)it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe (AC)in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 (AD)who was delivered up because of our offenses, and (AE)was raised because of our justification.
Footnotes
- Romans 4:1 Or (fore)father according to the flesh has found?
- Romans 4:3 imputed, credited, reckoned, counted
- Romans 4:4 according to
- Romans 4:16 certain
Romanos 4
Reina-Valera 1960
Romanos 4
Reina-Valera 1960
El ejemplo de Abraham
4 ¿Qué, pues, diremos que halló Abraham, nuestro padre según la carne? 2 Porque si Abraham fue justificado por las obras, tiene de qué gloriarse, pero no para con Dios. 3 Porque ¿qué dice la Escritura? Creyó Abraham a Dios, y le fue contado por justicia.(A) 4 Pero al que obra, no se le cuenta el salario como gracia, sino como deuda; 5 mas al que no obra, sino cree en aquel que justifica al impío, su fe le es contada por justicia. 6 Como también David habla de la bienaventuranza del hombre a quien Dios atribuye justicia sin obras, 7 diciendo:
Bienaventurados aquellos cuyas iniquidades son perdonadas,
Y cuyos pecados son cubiertos.
8 Bienaventurado el varón a quien el Señor no inculpa de pecado.(B)
9 ¿Es, pues, esta bienaventuranza solamente para los de la circuncisión, o también para los de la incircuncisión? Porque decimos que a Abraham le fue contada la fe por justicia. 10 ¿Cómo, pues, le fue contada? ¿Estando en la circuncisión, o en la incircuncisión? No en la circuncisión, sino en la incircuncisión. 11 Y recibió la circuncisión(C) como señal, como sello de la justicia de la fe que tuvo estando aún incircunciso; para que fuese padre de todos los creyentes no circuncidados, a fin de que también a ellos la fe les sea contada por justicia; 12 y padre de la circuncisión, para los que no solamente son de la circuncisión, sino que también siguen las pisadas de la fe que tuvo nuestro padre Abraham antes de ser circuncidado.
La promesa realizada mediante la fe
13 Porque no por la ley fue dada a Abraham o a su descendencia la promesa de que sería heredero del mundo,(D) sino por la justicia de la fe. 14 Porque si los que son de la ley son los herederos, vana resulta la fe, y anulada la promesa.(E) 15 Pues la ley produce ira; pero donde no hay ley, tampoco hay transgresión.
16 Por tanto, es por fe, para que sea por gracia, a fin de que la promesa sea firme para toda su descendencia; no solamente para la que es de la ley, sino también para la que es de la fe de Abraham, el cual es padre de todos nosotros(F) 17 (como está escrito: Te he puesto por padre de muchas gentes(G)) delante de Dios, a quien creyó, el cual da vida a los muertos, y llama las cosas que no son, como si fuesen. 18 Él creyó en esperanza contra esperanza, para llegar a ser padre de muchas gentes, conforme a lo que se le había dicho: Así será tu descendencia.(H) 19 Y no se debilitó en la fe al considerar su cuerpo, que estaba ya como muerto (siendo de casi cien años(I)), o la esterilidad de la matriz de Sara. 20 Tampoco dudó, por incredulidad, de la promesa de Dios, sino que se fortaleció en fe, dando gloria a Dios, 21 plenamente convencido de que era también poderoso para hacer todo lo que había prometido; 22 por lo cual también su fe le fue contada por justicia. 23 Y no solamente con respecto a él se escribió que le fue contada, 24 sino también con respecto a nosotros a quienes ha de ser contada, esto es, a los que creemos en el que levantó de los muertos a Jesús, Señor nuestro, 25 el cual fue entregado por nuestras transgresiones, y resucitado para nuestra justificación.
Kehillah in Rome 4
Orthodox Jewish Bible
Kehillah in Rome 4
Orthodox Jewish Bible
4 What then shall we say about the one who according to the basar (flesh) is Avraham Avinu? What did he find to be the case?
2 For if Avraham Avinu was accounted to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM and acquitted before Hashem on the basis of ma’asim tovim (Works), he has something to boast about. But not before Hashem!
3 For what does the Torah say? Avraham Avinu had emunah (faith) in Hashem V’YACHSHEVEH-HA LO TZEDAKAH ("and it was accounted, credited, reckoned imputed to him for righteousness" Gen 15:6.)
4 Now to him who works, the loin (wages, batzalon [remuneration]) is not credited to one’s account as a favor or gift of chesed but as a choiv (debt).
5 But to the man who does not "work" but has emunah and bitachon in the One who takes the impious man lacking chasidus and accounts him to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM (justified with G-d), such a man who does not "work " but has emunah (faith), such emunah is credited to him for TZEDAKAH ("righteousness" BERESHIS 15:6).
6 As also Dovid HaMelech speaks of the me’ushar (blessedness) of the person whom Hashem reckons to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM (justified with G-d) without dependence on [zechusearning] ma’asim (works) [T.N. with merit (zechus) viewed as "pay" earned for "work" rendered‖see Ro 4:4]:
7 "Ashrey (blessed, happy) are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered over;
8 ASHREY ADAM LO YAKHSHOV HASHEM LO AVON. Blessed, happy is the one whose sin Hashem will by no means count." (Ps 32:1-2).
9 This me’ushar (blessedness), then, does it come on those of the bris milah (the circumcised) or also on those without the bris milah (the uncircumcised)? For we say, emunah "was counted, reckoned, credited" to Avraham Avinu for TZEDAKAH ("righteousness" BERESHIS 15:6).
10 When then was it "reckoned"? When Avraham Avinu had the bris milah and was in the state of circumcision? Or when Avraham Avinu did not have the bris milah and was in the state of uncircumcision?
11 Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision! And he received the ot (sign or distinguishing mark) of the milah (circumcision) as a chotam (seal) of the Tzidkat HaEmunah (the Righteousness of Faith) which he had in his uncircumcision, in order that he might be father of all who believe through uncircumcision, that to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM might be reckoned, counted to them as well,
12 And in order that he might be Av (Father) to the Nimolim (Circumcised ones), to those who are not only HaNimolim but also who follow in the footsteps of the emunah of Avraham Avinu, which he had in [his] uncircumcision.
13 For the havtachah (promise) to Avraham Avinu and his zera (seed), that he should be Yoresh HaOlam (Heir of the World), did not come through the context of law but through the Tzidkat HaEmunah (the Righteousness of Faith).
14 For if the salvation-byworks legalists are yoreshim (heirs), emunah (faith) is rendered invalid and the havtachah (the promise) is annulled,
15 for the Torah brings about the Charon Af Hashem (Ro 1:18; 3:20; SHEMOT 32:8-10), and where there is no Torah there is no peysha (transgression, rebellion, violation of the Law).
16 For this reason the havtachah (promise) is of emunah (faith), in order that it might be in accordance with unmerited Chen v’Chesed Hashem, that the havtachah might be certain to all the zera (seed), not to him who is of the Torah only, but also to bnei emunat Avraham (the sons of the faith of Avraham Avinu, to those who are of the faith of Abraham). Avraham Avinu is the father of us all,
17 as it is written, AV HAMON GOYIM N’TATICHA ("I have made you father of many nations" BERESHIS 17:5). This was in the sight of Hashem in whom "he believed," G-d who gives Chayyim to the Mesim and calls things which have no existence into existence.
18 Against tikvah (hope), in tikvah "he believed," in order that he might become AV HAMON GOYIM ("father of many nations" BERESHIS 17:5) in accordance with what had been said, "So shall your ZERA ("seed’) be" BERESHIS 15:5.
19 Without weakening in emunah (in personal faith, bitachon, trust) he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead vi-bahlt (since) he was about one hundred years old, and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20 He did not, in disbelief, doubt the havtachah of Hashem (the promise of G-d), but was strengthened in emunah (faith), giving kavod (glory) to Hashem,
21 Being fully convinced that what Hashem had promised He also was able to do.
22 Therefore, V’YACHSHEVEH-HA LO TZEDAKAH ("it [his faith in G-d] was accounted, credited to him for righteousness" BERESHIS 15:6).
23 Nor was it written down for his sake alone that "it was reckoned to him,"
24 But also for us, to whom it is to be reckoned, who believe in Him who raised Yehoshua Adoneinu from the mesim (dead ones),
25 Who was handed over for PEYSHA’EINU (our transgressions, YESHAYAH 53:5) and made to stand up in his Techiyas HaMoshiach that we be YITZDAK IM HASHEM (be justified with G-d, that we have our justification, our acquittal, vindication see Ro 5:18).
Modern English Version (MEV)
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960) 
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Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
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