Galatians 3

1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Foolish Galatians! Who has put a spell on you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly displayed as crucified.

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

This is the only thing I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now going to finish by the flesh?

4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if [it be] yet in vain.

Have you suffered so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing?

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

Does he who gives the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by the works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Just as Abraham “believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,”

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

in the same way, understand, then, that those of faith are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.

The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

So then, those of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

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

All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; and so it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the law, and do them.”

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

But the law is not of faith, rather, “The person who does the works of the law must live by them.”

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—

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

so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though [it be] but a man’s covenant, yet [if it be] confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Brothers, let me speak in human terms. In a man-made contract, no one can set it aside or add to it, once it is established by law.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, 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 descendant. It does not say, “to descendants,” referring to many, but instead to only one, “and to your descendant,” who is Christ.

17 And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Now what I mean is this: The law, which came 430 years afterward, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God.

18 For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise.

For if the inheritance comes by the law, then it no longer comes by promise. But God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

19 Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of trespasses, until the descendant of Abraham would come to whom the promise had been made. The law was put into force through angels by a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one.

Now a mediator implies more than one person, but God is one.

21 [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

So is the law against 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.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

But the scripture imprisoned everything under sin. God did this so that the promise to save us by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

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

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until faith should be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

So then the law became our guardian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

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

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

For as many of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all 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 [be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Then if you are Christ's, you are Abraham's descendants, and heirs according to promise.