King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
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?
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You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited 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?
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The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing 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?
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Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
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Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really 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?
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Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
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Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,"
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
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so, you see, those who believe are the descendants 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.
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And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you."
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
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For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed.
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.
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For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law."
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.
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Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for "The one who is righteous will live by faith."
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
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But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, "Whoever does the works of the law will 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:
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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.
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in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
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.
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Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person's will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it.
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.
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Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, "And to offsprings," as of many; but it says, "And to your offspring," that is, to one person, 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.
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My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
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For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the 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.
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Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
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Now a mediator involves more than one party; 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.
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Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through 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.
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But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through 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.
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Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
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Therefore the law was our disciplinarian 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.
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But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
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for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
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As many of you as 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.
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There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
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And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.