| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. | 1You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! |
| 2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? | 2The 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? |
| 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? | 3Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort? |
| 4Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? | 4Have you suffered so many things for nothing?--if indeed it was for nothing. |
| 5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— | 5Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard? |
| 6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? | 6Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, |
| 7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. | 7so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. |
| 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” | 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you." |
| 9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. | 9So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. |
| 10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” | 10For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law." |
| 11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” | 11Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. |
| 12But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” | 12But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. |
| 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— | 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree") |
| 14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. | 14in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith. |
| 15To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. | 15Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it. |
| 16Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. | 16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, "and to the descendants," referring to many, but "and to your descendant," referring to one, who is Christ. |
| 17This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. | 17What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise. |
| 18For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. | 18For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise. |
| 19Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. | 19Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary. |
| 20Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. | 20Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one. |
| 21Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. | 21Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. |
| 22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. | 22But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given--because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ--to those who believe. |
| 23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. | 23Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. |
| 24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. | 24Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. |
| 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, | 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. |
| 26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. | 26For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. |
| 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. | 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. |
| 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female--for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. |
| 29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. | 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise. |
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