Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
1
Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
2
Help carry each other's burdens. In this way you will follow Christ's teachings.
3 For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
3
So if any one of you thinks you're important when you're really not, you're only fooling yourself.
4 But let every man put to the proof his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
4
Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
5
Assume your own responsibility.
6 Let him that is taught in the Word share with him that teacheth, in all good things.
6
The person who is taught God's word should share all good things with his teacher.
7 Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
7
Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you'll harvest.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
8
If you plant in [the soil of] your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in [the soil of] your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life.
9 And let us not be weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
9
We can't allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive [everlasting life] at the proper time, if we don't give up.
10 As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto those who are of the household of faith.
10
Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.
11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
11
Look at how large the letters [in these words] are because I'm writing this myself.
12 As many as desire to make a fair showing in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
12
These people who want to make a big deal out of a physical thing are trying to force you to be circumcised. Their only aim is to avoid persecution because of the cross of Christ.
13 For not even they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
13
It's clear that not even those who had themselves circumcised did this to follow Jewish laws. Yet, they want you to be circumcised so that they can brag about what was done to your body.
14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
14
But it's unthinkable that I could ever brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his cross my relationship to the world and its relationship to me have been crucified.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
15
Certainly, it doesn't matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
16
Peace and mercy will come to rest on all those who conform to this principle. They are the Israel of God.
17 From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
17
From now on, don't make any trouble for me! After all, I carry the scars of Jesus on my body.
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
18
May the good will of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters! Amen.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.