Galatians 3

1 O senseless Galatians, who has bewitched you; to whom, as before your very eyes, Jesus Christ has been portrayed, crucified [among you]?

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you to keep you from obeying the truth? In your presence, before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

2 This only I wish to learn of you, Have ye received the Spirit on the principle of works of law, or of [the] report of faith?

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

3 Are ye so senseless? having begun in Spirit, are ye going to be made perfect in flesh?

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now trying to be perfected by the flesh?

4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain, if indeed also in vain?

Did you suffer so much in vain?—if indeed it was in vain.

5 He therefore who ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, [is it] on the principle of works of law, or of [the] report of faith?

Does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you because you perform the works of the law or because you hear with faith?

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

Remember, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

7 Know then that they that are on the principle of faith, these are Abraham's sons;

Therefore you must understand that those who have faith are the sons of Abraham.

8 and the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations on the principle of faith, announced beforehand the glad tidings to Abraham: In thee all the nations shall be blessed.

Now the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in yoʋ.”

9 So that they who are on the principle of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

So then, those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10 For as many as are on the principle of works of law are under curse. For it is written, Cursed is every one who does not continue in all things which [are] written in the book of the law to do them;

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

11 but that by law no one is justified with God [is] evident, because The just shall live on the principle of faith;

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

12 but the law is not on the principle of faith; but, He that shall have done these things shall live by them.

But the law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The person who does these things will live by them.”

13 Christ has redeemed us out of the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, (for it is written, Cursed [is] every one hanged upon a tree, )

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”

14 that the blessing of Abraham might come to the nations in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

He redeemed us so that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 Brethren, (I speak according to man, ) even man's confirmed covenant no one sets aside, or adds other dispositions to.

Brothers, let me give an example from everyday life: When a man-made covenant is ratified, no one annuls it or adds to it.

16 But to Abraham were the promises addressed, and to his seed: he does not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed; which is Christ.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, “And to his descendants,” referring to many, but referring to one man it says, “And to yoʋr descendant,” who is Christ.

17 Now I say this, A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which took place four hundred and thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

My point is this: The law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul a covenant previously ratified by God to Christ, so as to invalidate the promise.

18 For if the inheritance [be] on the principle of law, [it is] no longer on the principle of promise; but God gave it in grace to Abraham by promise.

For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by the promise; but God granted it to Abraham by a promise.

19 Why then the law? It was added for the sake of transgressions, until the seed came to whom the promise was made, ordained through angels in [the] hand of a mediator.

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the descendant should come to whom the promise had been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

20 But a mediator is not of one, but God is one.

Now a mediator does not represent just one party, but God is one.

21 [Is] then the law against the promises of God? Far be the thought. For if a law had been given able to quicken, then indeed righteousness were on the principle of law;

Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, truly righteousness would have come through the law.

22 but the scripture has shut up all things under sin, that the promise, on the principle of faith of Jesus Christ, should be given to those that believe.

But the Scripture has confined all under sin, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were guarded under law, shut up to faith [which was] about to be revealed.

Now before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined until the faith that was to come would be revealed.

24 So that the law has been our tutor up to Christ, that we might be justified on the principle of faith.

The law, then, was our guardian until Christ came, so that we could be justified by faith.

25 But, faith having come, we are no longer under a tutor;

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

26 for ye are all God's sons by faith in Christ Jesus.

for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For ye, as many as have been baptised unto Christ, have put on Christ.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is no Jew nor Greek; there is no bondman nor freeman; there is no male and female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 but if ye [are] of Christ, then ye are Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants and heirs according to the promise.