That is one of the most misunderstood passages of scripture. You quote it without regards to what Paul taught in Romans 4 that a man is indeed justified and declared Righteous apart from the works of the law. A student of God's written word needs to take it all into account and find the truth about how apparent contradictions are actually in harmony if one understands the relationship between works prompted from faith and works that are meant to justify oneself. There is a mountain of difference between the two in the eyes of God.