Galatians 3

1O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?

1You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly presented as being crucified.

2This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

2I want to ask you just one thing: Did you receive the Spirit by obeying the law, or by believing the message you heard?

3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?

3Are you so foolish? After starting your spiritual life with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish it by your own human effort?

4Did ye suffer so many things in vain? if it be indeed in vain.

4Have you gone through so many experiences for nothing—if it really was for nothing?

5He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

5Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you because you follow the law, or because you believe what you heard?

6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

6It is just like Abraham: 'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'

7Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham.

7Understand, then, that those who have faith are the true children of Abraham.

8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed.

8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the Good News to Abraham long ago, saying, 'All nations will be blessed through you.'

9So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

9So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.

10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.'

11Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith;

11Clearly, no one is made right with God by the law, because 'The righteous person will live by faith.'

12and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them.

12The law is not based on faith; instead, it says, 'The person who does these things will live by them.'

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

13Christ rescued us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'

14that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

14He did this so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

15Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto.

15Brothers and sisters, let me use an example from everyday life. Just as no one can cancel or add to a human contract once it has been legally finalized, so it is in this case.

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

16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his 'seed.' Scripture does not say 'and to seeds,' meaning many people, but 'and to your seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ.

17Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect.

17What I mean is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not cancel the covenant previously established by God and so do away with the promise.

18For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise.

18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

19Why then was the law given? It was added because of wrongdoings until the 'seed' to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator.

20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one.

20Now, a mediator involves more than one party, but God is one.

21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.

21Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

22But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

22But Scripture has locked up everything under the power of sin, so that what was promised might be given through faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.

23But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come was revealed.

24So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

24So the law was put in charge of us as a guardian until Christ came, so that we might be made right with God by faith.

25But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.

25Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of that guardian.

26For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.

26For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.

27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

28There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.

28There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.

29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants and heirs according to the promise.