Galatians 5

1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

stand firm then, and do not be again entangled in a yoke of bondage.

2 Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, 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 Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision 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 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away 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, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

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 Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, but faith working through love.

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

7 You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?

You were running your race nobly. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

The influence brought to bear does not come from him who is calling you.

9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

A little leaven is leavening the whole lump.

10 I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

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 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.

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 wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.

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

13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to 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 the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

For the whole Law has been fulfilled in this one precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.

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

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t 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 lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

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 you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

But if you are habitually led by the Spirit you are not under law.

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

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

20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

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

21 envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

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, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

But the harvest-fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness, and self-control;

23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

against such there is no law.

24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

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

25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

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

26 Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

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