Galatians 6

1 My fellow believers, if [you] discover that a person [among your congregation] is sinning, [those of] you whom [God’s] Spirit [is directing and empowering] should gently correct that person. [Furthermore, each of] you [who corrects another person should] be very cautious in order that you might not [sin like that when] you are tempted {[when something] tempts you}.

Also, brethren, if a man be surprised into any fault, you, the spiritual men, set such a one right again in the spirit of meekness; taking a view of yourself, lest even you be tempted.

2 [When there are ones who have] problems, you should help each other. By doing that, you will complete what Christ requires.

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

3 Keep in mind that those who [refuse to help others because they think that they are more important than other people, although they are] not really more important, are deceiving themselves.

For if any one think himself to be something, being nothing he deceives himself.

4 Instead, each [of you] should [constantly] test/judge [and decide if you can approve what you yourself are doing and thinking]. Then you can boast because of what you yourself [are doing and thinking], and not because what you are doing is superior to what other persons [are doing].

But let every one try his own work, and then he shall have boasting in himself alone, and not in another.

5 Keep in mind that you must each perform your own [individual] tasks.

For every one shall bear his own burden.

6 [You] who are being taught {whom others are teaching} [God’s truth] should share your various [material] things [EUP] with your teachers.

Now let him, who is instructed in the word, communicate of all good things to the instructor.

7 You should not deceive yourselves. [Remember that] God is never outwitted {no one ever fools God}. [Just like] a farmer will reap exactly the kind [of crop that] he plants [MET], [God will reward people according to what they have done] [MET].

Do not deceive yourselves; God is not mocked: for whatever a man shows, that also he shall reap.

8 [God] will punish eternally those who do what their self-directed natures urge them to do. But those who please [God’s] Spirit will live forever [with God] because of what [God’s] Spirit does for them. (aiōnios g166)

Therefore, he who sows to his flesh, shall from the flesh reap corruption: but he who sows to his spirit, shall from the Spirit reap life everlasting. (aiōnios g166)

9 But we should not (tire of/become discouraged while) doing what pleases God, because [eventually], at the time [that God] has determined, we will receive a reward [MET], if we do not stop [doing the good things that we have been doing].

Wherefore, let us not flag in well doing; for in the proper season we shall reap, if we faint not.

10 So, whenever we have opportunities, we should do [what is] good to all people. But especially we should do what is good to all our fellow believers.

Well, then, while we have opportunity let us do good to all: but especially to them, who are of the household of faith.

11 I am now writing this last part of this letter to you in my own handwriting. Notice the large letters with which I am now writing. I am doing this in order that I might emphasize this:

You see how large a letter, I have written to you with my own hand.

12 Some Jewish believers are trying to force you to perform certain rituals so that other Jews will think highly of them. They are insisting that you be circumcised {that someone must circumcise you}. They are doing that only in order that other Jews would no longer (persecute them/cause them to suffer) for proclaiming that God will save us because of our trusting in what Christ accomplished when he died on the cross [MTY, MET].

As many as wish to appear fair by the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

13 The reason that I say that is that the ones who are insisting that you be circumcised {that someone circumcise you} do not themselves fully obey the laws that God gave to Moses. Instead, they desire that you let someone circumcise you in order that they might boast to those Jews who would (persecute them/cause them to suffer) that you did that because they insisted [MTY] that you do it.

For not even do the circumcised themselves keep the law; but they wish you to be circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

14 I myself, however, strongly desire that I never boast about anything like that. The only thing I will boast about is what our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished by dying on the cross [MTY]. Because of what Christ did on the cross, I no longer am interested in the things that those who do not trust Christ [MTY] think are important, and those people are no longer interested in the things that I [MET] think are important.

But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.

15 I will boast about Christ dying on the cross because God is concerned neither that people are circumcised nor that people are not circumcised. Instead, he is concerned only that people conduct their lives in a completely new way.

For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but a new creature.

16 I pray that God will give inner peace and act kindly towards all who will act according to this new way of life. It is all those who live according to this new way of life who are now truly God’s people [MET], as the Israeli people were God’s people previously.

Now as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and on the Israel of God.

17 Finally, I say that people have persecuted me/caused me to suffer for declaring the truth about Jesus, and as a result I have scars on my body. Your new teachers do not have scars like mine! So do not trouble/bother me about these matters again!

Henceforth let no one give me trouble, for I bear the scars of the Lord Jesus in my body.

18 My fellow believers, I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will kindly accomplish what he desires within you. (Amen!/May it be so!)

The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.