Galatians 5

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with 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 be 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 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

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

4 Christ is become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; ye have fallen 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 wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

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 Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

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

7 Ye did run 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 [cometh] not from him that calleth 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 have confidence in you through 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 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then hath the offense of the cross ceased.

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 I would they were even cut off who trouble you.

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

13 For, brethren, ye have been called to liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by 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 all the law is fulfilled in one word, [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, take heed that ye be not consumed one by another.

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

16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye will not fulfill the lust 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 lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot 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, which are [these], Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

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

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

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

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they who do 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, gentleness, goodness, faith,

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 there is no law.

against such there is no law.

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

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

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

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

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

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