| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? | 1What then can we say that Abraham, our physical ancestor, has found? |
| 2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. | 2If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to brag about--but not before God. |
| 3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. | 3For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. |
| 4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. | 4Now to the one who works, pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. |
| 5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. | 5But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness. |
| 6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, | 6Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works: |
| 7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. | 7How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered! |
| 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. | 8How joyful is the man the Lord will never charge with sin! |
| 9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. | 9Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. |
| 10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. | 10In what way then was it credited--while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. |
| 11And 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: | 11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. |
| 12And 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. | 12And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised. |
| 13For 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. | 13For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. |
| 14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: | 14If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise is canceled. |
| 15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. | 15For the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. |
| 16Therefore 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, | 16This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of Abraham's faith. He 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. | 17in God's sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. He believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. |
| 18Who 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. | 18He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. |
| 19And 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: | 19He considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about 100 years old) and also considered the deadness of Sarah's womb, without weakening in the faith. |
| 20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; | 20He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, |
| 21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. | 21because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. |
| 22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. | 22Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. |
| 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; | 23Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, |
| 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; | 24but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. |
| 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. | 25He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. |
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