Galatians, 5

1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

1. Christ freed us to make us really free. So remain firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

2. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

2. I, Paul, say this to you: if you receive circumcision, Christ can no longer help you.

3. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

3. Once more I say to whoever receives circumcision: you are now bound to keep the whole Law.

4. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

4. All you who pretend to become righteous through the observance of the Law have separated yourselves from Christ and have fallen away from grace.

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

5. As for us, the Spirit imparts to us this hope that through faith we shall be set right with God.

6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

6. In Christ Jesus it is irrelevant whether we be circumcised or not; what matters is faith working through love.

7. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

7. You had begun your race well, who then hindered you on the way? Why did you stop obeying the truth?

8. This persuasion [cometh] not of him that calleth you.

8. This was not in obedience to God who calls you:

9. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

9. in fact, a little leaven is affecting the whole of you.

10. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

10. I am personally convinced that you will not go astray, but the one who confuses you, whoever he may be, shall receive punishment.

11. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

11. I myself, brothers, could I not preach circumcision? Then I would no longer be persecuted. But where would be the scandal of the cross?

12. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

12. Would that those who confuse you might go as far as mutilating themselves!

13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

13. You, brothers and sisters, were called to enjoy freedom; I am not speaking of that freedom which gives free rein to the desires of the flesh, but of that which makes you slaves of one another through love.

14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

14. For the whole Law is summed up in this sentence: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

15. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

15. But if you bite and tear each other to pieces, be careful lest you all perish.

16. [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

16. Therefore I say to you: walk according to the Spirit and do not give way to the desires of the flesh!

17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

17. For the desires of the flesh war against the spirit, and the desires of the spirit are opposed to the flesh. Both are in conflict with each other, so that you cannot do everything you would like.

18. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

18. But let the Spirit lead you: this has nothing to do with submitting to the Law.

19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

19. You well know what comes from the flesh: immorality, impurity and shamelessness,

20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

20. idol worship and magic, hatred, jealousy and violence, anger, ambition, division, factions,

21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

21. and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. I again say to you what I have already said: those who do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy and peace, patience, understanding of others, kindness and fidelity,

23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

23. gentleness and self-control. For such things there is no Law or punishment.

24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

24. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its vices and desires.

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

25. If we live by the Spirit, let us live in a spiritual way.

26. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

26. Let us not be conceited; let there be no rivalry or envy of one another.