Galatians 5

1 Stand firm in the liberty with which Christ made us free, and be not again bound fast to the yoke of bondage.

stand firm then, and do not be again entangled in a yoke of bondage.

2 Behold, I Paul say to you, that if ye are circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing;

Listen to me! I, Paul, declare to you that if you are to continue to follow the rite of circumcision, Christ will be no profit to you.

3 yea, I testify again to every one who becometh circumcised, that he is bound to keep the whole Law.

I solemnly testify to every man who submits to circumcision that he obligates himself to keep the whole Law.

4 Ye are entirely separated from Christ, who seek to obtain righteousness through the Law; ye have fallen away from grace.

If you are being justified by law, you are cut off from Christ; you are fallen away from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit by faith steadfastly wait for the hope of righteousness.

But we are not, for we through the Spirit are eagerly waiting by faith for a hope of righteousness (a hope well founded);

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working by love.

because in Christ neither circumcision has any value, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works through love.

7 Ye were running well; who hindered you, that ye should not obey the truth?

You were running your race nobly. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

8 This persuasion came not from him that called you.

The influence brought to bear does not come from him who is calling you.

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

A little leaven is leavening the whole lump.

10 I indeed have confidence in regard to you in the Lord, that ye will be no otherwise minded; but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whoever he may be.

As for me, I am fully trusting you in the Lord that you will be no otherwise minded; but he who is trying to unsettle you will have to bear his punishment, whoever he may be.

11 But as for me, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then hath the cross ceased to be a stumbling-block.

But I, brothers, if I "still preach circumcision," why am I still persecuted? Then surely the stumbling-block of the Cross has ceased to be an obstacle!

12 Would that they who unsettle you would quite cut themselves off!

Would to God that those who are trying to unsettle you would even have themselves mutilated.

13 For ye, brethren, were called to liberty; only use not your liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by your love serve one another.

For you, brothers, were called for freedom; only do not make your freedom an excuse for self-indulgence, but in love enslave yourselves to one another.

14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one commandment, even in this “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

For the whole Law has been fulfilled in this one precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

15 But if ye bite and devour one another, beware lest ye be consumed by one another.

But if you are always biting and devouring one another, take heed lest you be utterly consumed one by another.

16 But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

This is my meaning. Let your steps be guided by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

17 For the flesh hath desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these oppose one another, that ye may not do the things that ye would.

For the desire of the flesh is against that of the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit is against that of the flesh, for they two are antagonistic, so that you may not do those things that you wish.

18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the Law.

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

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest; such as fornication, uncleanness, wantonness,

Now the works of the flesh are manifest; such, for instance, as fornication, impurity, indecency,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, rivalry, outbursts of wrath, cabals, divisions, factions,

idol-worship, sorcery, quarrels, party-spirit, jealousy, passionate anger, intrigues, factions, sectarianism,

21 envyings, drunkenness, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you beforehand, as I also told you in time past, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

envy, drunkenness, revelings, and things like these. I tell you beforehand, as I have already told you, that those who practise such sins shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

But the harvest-fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness, and self-control;

23 meekness, temperance; against such things as these there is no law.

against such there is no law.

24 And they who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts.

And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and appetites.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

If we are living by the Spirit, let us also keep step in the Spirit.

26 Let us not become vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

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