Galatians 3

1 Foolish Galatians, who has cunningly deceived you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth as crucified?

Foolish Galatians! Who has put a spell on you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly displayed as crucified.

2 I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

This is the only thing I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now going to finish by the flesh?

4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

Have you suffered so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing?

5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

Does he who gives the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by the works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

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

Just as Abraham “believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,”

7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham.

in the same way, understand, then, that those of faith are the children of Abraham.

8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the non-Jews by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "Through you all the nations will be blessed."

The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”

9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

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

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."

All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; and so it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the law, and do them.”

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified by the law before God, for, "The righteous will live by faith."

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

12 The law is not of faith, but, "The one who does them will live by them."

But the law is not of faith, rather, “The person who does the works of the law must live by them.”

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on 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 on the non-Jews through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

15 Brothers, I am speaking in human terms. Though it is only a human covenant, once it has been ratified, no one annuls it or adds to it.

Brothers, let me speak in human terms. In a man-made contract, no one can set it aside or add to it, once it is established by law.

16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He does not say, "And to offsprings," as of many, but as of one, "And to your offspring," which is Christ.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. It does not say, “to descendants,” referring to many, but instead to only one, “and to your descendant,” who is Christ.

17 Now I say this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to cancel the promise.

Now what I mean is this: The law, which came 430 years afterward, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God.

18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

For if the inheritance comes by the law, then it no longer comes by promise. But God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

19 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of trespasses, until the descendant of Abraham would come to whom the promise had been made. The law was put into force through angels by a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.

Now a mediator implies more than one person, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not. For if there had been a law given which could give life, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

So is the law against the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

22 But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

But the scripture imprisoned everything under sin. God did this so that the promise to save us by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until faith should be revealed.

24 So that the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

So then the law became our guardian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

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

26 For you are all sons of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

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

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

For as many of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

28 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.

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 If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to promise.

Then if you are Christ's, you are Abraham's descendants, and heirs according to promise.