⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.^(A)” ⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars^(B)—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring^[a] be.”^(C)

⁶ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.^(D)

¹⁸ and through your offspring^[a] all nations on earth will be blessed,^[b](A) because you have obeyed me.”^(B)

¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[a](A) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life^(B) to the dead and calls^(C) into being things that were not.^(D)

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,^(E) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^{[b](F) 19} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead^(G)—since he was about a hundred years old^(H)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.^{(I) 20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(J) in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(K) 21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^{(L) 22} This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^(M)

⁸ By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,^(A) obeyed and went,^(B) even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land^(C) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,^(D) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.^{(E) 10} For he was looking forward to the city^(F) with foundations,^(G) whose architect and builder is God.^{(H) 11} And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,^(I) was enabled to bear children^(J) because she^[a] considered him faithful^(K) who had made the promise. ¹² And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,^(L) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.^(M)