Galatians 5

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

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not again be put under the control of a yoke of slavery.

2 Listen, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.

Look, I, Paul, say to you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will not benefit you in any way.

3 Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

You are cut off from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you no longer experience grace.

5 For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

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

In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith working through love.

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

You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?

8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

This persuasion does not come from him who calls you!

9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise.

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.

I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will pay the penalty, whoever he is.

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

Brothers, if I still proclaim circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.

12 I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.

As for those who are disturbing you, I wish they would castrate themselves!

13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only do not use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. But do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the sinful nature; rather, through love serve one another.

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You are to love your neighbor as yourself."

For the whole law is fulfilled in one command: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you do not consume one another.

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the sinful nature.

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 desires of the sinful nature are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the sinful nature. For these are in conflict with each other, so that you cannot do the things you want.

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

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

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

Now the works of the sinful nature are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,

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

idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalry, dissension, divisions,

21 envyings, 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 the Kingdom of God.

envy, drunkenness, drunken celebrations, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

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

gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.

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

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

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

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

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

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