³¹ but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,^(A) have not attained their goal.^(B)

³² Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.^(A)

³ Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.^(A)

⁴ Christ is the culmination of the law^(A) so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.^(B)

² If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.^{(A) 3} What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[a](B)

⁴ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift^(C) but as an obligation. ⁵ However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.^(D)