Galatians 5

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if all of you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; all of you are fallen from grace.

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit (pneuma) wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love. (agape)

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

7 All of you did run well; who did hinder you that all of you should not obey the truth?

You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?

8 This persuasion comes not of him that calls you.

Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you.

9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.

10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that all of you will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubles you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!

13 For, brethren, all of you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love (agape) serve one another.

For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, (logos) even in this; You shall love your neighbour as yourself.

The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

15 But if all of you bite and devour one another, take heed that all of you be not consumed one of another.

But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, (pneuma) and all of you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, (pneuma) and the Spirit (pneuma) against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that all of you cannot do the things that all of you would.

For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.

18 But if all of you be led of the Spirit, (pneuma) all of you are not under the law.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, worldy jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit (pneuma) is love, (agape) joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 Meekness, wilful restrain: against such there is no law.

gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live in the Spirit, (pneuma) let us also walk in the Spirit. (pneuma)

Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.