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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are 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 —

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."

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 the 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 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."

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

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

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

The law is not of faith, but, "The one who does them will 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 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,"

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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,

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.

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 is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to 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 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.

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

Now a mediator is not between one, 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? Certainly not. For if there had been a law given which could give life, most certainly righteousness would have been of the 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 Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might 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 faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

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

So that the law was our tutor to bring 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 now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

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

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

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

For as many of you as were baptized 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 slave nor free, 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.

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