International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1You foolish Galatians! Who put you under a spell? Was not Jesus the Messiah clearly portrayed before your very eyes as having been crucified?

1You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

2I want to learn only one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the actions of the Law or by believing what you heard?

2This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

3Are you so foolish? Having started out with the Spirit, are you now ending up with the flesh?

3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

4Did you suffer so much for nothing? (If it really was for nothing!)

4Did you suffer so many things in vain-- if indeed it was in vain?

5Does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you because you do the actions of the Law or because you believe what you heard?

5So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

6In the same way, Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

6Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

7You see, then, that those who have faith are Abraham's real descendants.

7Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

8Because the Scripture saw ahead of time that God would justify the gentiles by faith, it announced the gospel to Abraham beforehand when it said, "Through you all nations will be blessed."

8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."

9Therefore, those who believe are blessed together with Abraham, the one who believed.

9So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

10Certainly all who depend on the actions of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, "A curse on everyone who does not obey everything that is written in the Book of the Law!"

10For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."

11Now it is obvious that no one is justified in the sight of God by the Law, because "The righteous will live by faith."

11Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

12But the Law has nothing to do with faith. Instead, "The person who keeps the commandments will have life in them."

12However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."

13The Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written, "A curse on everyone who is hung on a tree!"

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE "--

14This happened in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the gentiles through the Messiah Jesus, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

14in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15Brothers, let me use an example from everyday life. Once a person's will has been ratified, no one can cancel it or add conditions to it.

15Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.

16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. It doesn't say "descendants," referring to many, but "your descendant," referring to one person, who is the Messiah.

16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.

17This is what I mean: The Law that came 430 years later did not cancel the covenant that God ratified previously. The promise was never nullified.

17What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

18For if the inheritance comes about through the Law, it no longer comes about through the promise. But it was through a promise that God so graciously gave it to Abraham.

18For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

19Why, then, was the Law added? Because of transgressions, until the descendant came about whom the promise pertained. It was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

19Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

20Now a mediator involves more than one party, but God is one.

20Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.

21So is the Law in conflict with the promises of God? Of course not! For if a law had been given that could give us life, then certainly righteousness would come through the Law.

21Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.

22But the Scripture has captured everything by means of sin's net, so that what was promised by the faithfulness of the Messiah might be granted to those who believe.

22But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23Now before faith came about, we were held in custody and confined under the Law in preparation for the faith that was to be revealed.

23But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.

24And so the Law was our guardian until the Messiah came, so that we might be justified by faith.

24Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

25But now that faith has come about, we are no longer under a guardian.

25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

26For all of you are God's children through faith in the Messiah Jesus.

26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27Indeed, all of you who were baptized into the Messiah have clothed yourselves with the Messiah.

27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

28Because all of you are one in the Messiah Jesus, a person is no longer a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a male or a female.

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29And if you belong to the Messiah, then you are Abraham's descendants indeed, and heirs according to the promise.

29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org