Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, ^(A)our forefather according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but ^(B)not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? ^(C)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” ⁴ Now ^(D)to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. ⁵ And to the one who does not work but ^(E)believes in^[a] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

God's Covenant with Abram

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ^(A)“Fear not, Abram, I am ^(B)your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

⁵ And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and ^(A)number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, ^(B)“So shall your offspring be.” ⁶ And ^(C)he believed the Lord, and ^(D)he counted it to him as righteousness.

^7 (A)Keep far from a false charge, and ^(B)do not kill the innocent and righteous, for ^(C)I will not acquit the wicked.

25 “If there is a ^(A)dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, ^(B)acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty, ² then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense.

³¹ “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take ^(A)an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, ³² then hear in heaven and act and judge your servants, ^(B)condemning the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

Blessed Are the Forgiven

A Maskil^[a] of David.