en_tn/rom/04/10.md

# How was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before!

Paul asks two questions to introduce the third sentence. If your language does not allow speakers to use questions in order to introduce what they are talking about, you may need to translate these all as statements. Alternate translation: "This is when righteousness was counted to him: it was not after he had been circumcised, but before!" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

# How was it counted to him?

Paul is asking in a general way about the circumstances in which God considered Abraham righteous. He is not asking what procedure God followed to consider Abraham righteous. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "How did God consider Abraham to be righteous?" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

# It was not after, but before

This can be stated with the words that have been left out: Alternate translation: "It happened before he was circumcised, not after he was circumcised" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])