Galatians 3

1 O thoughtless Galatians, who did bewitch you, not to obey the truth — before whose eyes Jesus Christ was described before among you crucified?

O thoughtless Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been plainly set forth crucified?

2 this only do I wish to learn from you — by works of law the Spirit did ye receive, or by the hearing of faith?

This only I wish to learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 so thoughtless are ye! having begun in the Spirit, now in the flesh do ye end?

Are you so thoughtless? After having begun in Spirit, do you make an end in flesh?

4 so many things did ye suffer in vain! if, indeed, even in vain.

Have you suffered so many things in vain? if, indeed, it be in vain.

5 He, therefore, who is supplying to you the Spirit, and working mighty acts among you — by works of law or by the hearing of faith [is it]?

He that supplies to you the Spirit, and works mighty deeds among you, does he this by works of law or by the hearing of faith?

6 according as Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him — to righteousness;

even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

7 know ye, then, that those of faith — these are sons of Abraham,

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

8 and the Writing having foreseen that by faith God doth declare righteous the nations did proclaim before the good news to Abraham —

For the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached beforehand the gospel to Abraham, saying: In you shall all the nations be blessed.

9 'Blessed in thee shall be all the nations;' so that those of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham,

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

10 for as many as are of works of law are under a curse, for it hath been written, 'Cursed [is] every one who is not remaining in all things that have been written in the Book of the Law — to do them,'

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that does not continue in all things written in the book of the law to do them.

11 and that in law no one is declared righteous with God, is evident, because 'The righteous by faith shall live;'

But that no one is justified by law in the sight of God, is evident: for the just by faith shall live.

12 and the law is not by faith, but — 'The man who did them shall live in them.'

The law, indeed, is not of faith; but he that does these things shall live by them.

13 Christ did redeem us from the curse of the law, having become for us a curse, for it hath been written, 'Cursed is every one who is hanging on a tree,'

Christ has bought us off from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us: (for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: )

14 that to the nations the blessing of Abraham may come in Christ Jesus, that the promise of the Spirit we may receive through the faith.

in order that the blessing of Abraham may come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through the faith.

15 Brethren, as a man I say [it], even of man a confirmed covenant no one doth make void or doth add to,

Brethren, I speak of things common among men: No one sets a covenant aside, or enjoins any thing additional after it is confirmed, though it be a man’s covenant.

16 and to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed; He doth not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to thy seed,' which is Christ;

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring; he does not say: And to offsprings, as if he spoke of many; but as of one, And to your offspring, which is Christ.

17 and this I say, A covenant confirmed before by God to Christ, the law, that came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not set aside, to make void the promise,

And this I affirm, that the covenant which had been before confirmed by God with respect to Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, could not annul so as to make the promise of no effect.

18 for if by law [be] the inheritance, [it is] no more by promise, but to Abraham through promise did God grant [it].

For if the inheritance be by law, it is no longer by promise: but God bestowed it on Abraham by promise.

19 Why, then, the law? on account of the transgressions it was added, till the seed might come to which the promise hath been made, having been set in order through messengers in the hand of a mediator —

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added on account of transgressions, (till the offspring should come, to whom the promise was made, ) having been appointed through the service of angels, in the hand of a mediator.

20 and the mediator is not of one, and God is one —

Now, a mediator for one is impossible; but God is one.

21 the law, then, [is] against the promises of God? — let it not be! for if a law was given that was able to make alive, truly by law there would have been the righteousness,

Is the law, then, against the promises of God? It can not be. For if a law had been given which could have given life, surely righteousness would have been by law.

22 but the Writing did shut up the whole under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ may be given to those believing.

But the scripture has shut up all under sin, that the promise by faith in Christ Jesus may be given to those who believe.

23 And before the coming of the faith, under law we were being kept, shut up to the faith about to be revealed,

But before the faith came, we were kept under law, being shut up to the faith which was to be revealed.

24 so that the law became our child-conductor — to Christ, that by faith we may be declared righteous,

So, then, the law was our pedagogue that led us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 and the faith having come, no more under a child-conductor are we,

But since the faith has come, we are no longer under a pedagogue:

26 for ye are all sons of God through the faith in Christ Jesus,

for you are all the sons of God, by faith in Christ Jesus:

27 for as many as to Christ were baptized did put on Christ;

for as many of you as have been immersed into Christ, have put on Christ.

28 there is not here Jew or Greek, there is not here servant nor freeman, there is not here male and female, for all ye are one in Christ Jesus;

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bondman nor freeman, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 and if ye [are] of Christ then of Abraham ye are seed, and according to promise — heirs.

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s posterity, and heirs according to the promise.