1. WHAT shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh.
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 reputed to him unto justice.
4. Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace, but according to debt.
5. But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.
6. As David also termeth the blessedness of a man, to whom God reputeth justice without works:
7. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin.
9. This blessedness then, doth it remain in the circumcision only, or in the uncircumcision also? For we say that unto Abraham faith was reputed to justice.
10. How then was it reputed? 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 justice of the faith, which he had, being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, being uncircumcised, that unto them also it may be reputed to justice:
12. And might be the father of circumcision; not to them only, that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faithful, that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.