Personal Responsibility and Freedom in Christ

1. Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying, 2. “What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3. “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “you shall not use this proverb any more in Israel. 4. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins, he shall die. 5. “But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right, 6. and has not eaten on the mountains, hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife, hasn’t come near a woman in her impurity, 7. and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment; 8. he who hasn’t lent to them with interest, hasn’t taken any increase from them, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true justice between man and man, 9. has walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live,” says the Lord Yahweh. 10. “If he fathers a son who is a robber who sheds blood, and who does any one of these things, 11. or who does not do any of those things, but even has eaten at the mountain shrines, and defiled his neighbor’s wife, 12. has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination, 13. has lent with interest, and has taken increase from the poor; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood will be on him. 14. “Now, behold, if he fathers a son, who sees all his father’s sins, which he has done, and fears, and does not such like; 15. who hasn’t eaten on the mountains, hasn’t lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hasn’t defiled his neighbor’s wife, 16. hasn’t wronged any, hasn’t taken anything to pledge, hasn’t taken by robbery, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment; 17. who has withdrawn his hand from the poor, who hasn’t received interest or increase, has executed my ordinances, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father. He shall surely live. 18. As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he will die in his iniquity. 19. “Yet you say, ‘Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he will surely live. 20. The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. 21. “But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die. 22. None of his transgressions that he has committed will be remembered against him. In his righteousness that he has done, he shall live. 23. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh; “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live? 24. “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, should he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die. 25. “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal? 26. When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done he shall die. 27. Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he will save his soul alive. 28. Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die. 29. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ House of Israel, aren’t my ways fair? Aren’t your ways unfair? 30. “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity will not be your ruin. 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel? 32. For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live! 1. “Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2. and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness. She couched among lions, in the middle of the young lions she nourished her cubs. 3. She brought up one of her cubs. He became a young lion. He learned to catch the prey. He devoured men. 4. The nations also heard of him. He was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. 5. “‘Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her cubs, and made him a young lion. 6. He went up and down among the lions. He became a young lion. He learned to catch the prey. He devoured men. 7. He knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities. The land was desolate, with its fullness, because of the noise of his roaring. 8. Then the nations attacked him on every side from the provinces. They spread their net over him. He was taken in their pit. 9. They put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into strongholds, so that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel. 10. “‘Your mother was like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters. It was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters. 11. It had strong branches for the scepters of those who ruled. Their stature was exalted among the thick boughs. They were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches. 12. But it was plucked up in fury. It was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were broken off and withered. The fire consumed them. 13. Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. 14. Fire has gone out of its branches. It has devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong branch to be a scepter to rule.’ This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.” 1. In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me. 2. Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 3. “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’ 4. “Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers. 5. Tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am Yahweh your God;’ 6. in that day I swore to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. 7. I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.’ 8. “‘“But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt. 9. But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10. So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 11. I gave them my statutes, and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them. 12. Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them. 13. “‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14. But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 15. Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands; 16. because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. 17. Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness. 18. I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19. I am Yahweh your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them. 20. Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God.’ 21. “‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22. Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 23. Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries; 24. because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. 25. Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they should not live. 26. I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.”’ 27. “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. 28. For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29. Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’ 30. “Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations? 31. When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you! 32. “‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’ 33. As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you. 34. I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35. I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36. Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord Yahweh. 37. “I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38. I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” 39. “‘As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols. 40. For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things. 41. I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations. 42. You will know that I am Yahweh when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers. 43. There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed. 44. You will know that I am Yahweh, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh.’” 45. Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 46. “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South. 47. Tell the forest of the South, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word: Thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it. 48. All flesh will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’” 49. Then I said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”

1. Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), 2. and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: 3. Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4. who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father— 5. to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 6. I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”; 7. and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. 8. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. 9. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed. 10. For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. 11. But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. 12. For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. 13. For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it. 14. I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15. But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, 16. to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17. nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus. 18. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19. But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother. 20. Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying. 21. Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22. I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, 23. but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.” 24. And they glorified God in me. 1. Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 2. I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3. But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4. This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage; 5. to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you. 6. But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man)—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, 7. but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcised 8. (for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles); 9. and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. 10. They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do. 11. But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12. For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13. And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14. But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do? 15. “We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners, 16. yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. 17. But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18. For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker. 19. For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God. 20. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 21. I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!” 1. Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified? 2. I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 3. Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 4. Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5. He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 6. Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” 7. Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham. 8. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” 9. So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11. Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12. The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.” 13. Christ 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,” 14. that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15. Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it. 16. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ. 17. Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. 18. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise. 19. Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20. Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one. 21. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 22. But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24. So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26. For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28. There 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. 29. If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise. 1. But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all; 2. but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 3. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. 4. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 5. that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. 6. And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7. So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8. However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 9. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? 10. You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 11. I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you. 12. I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong, 13. but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time. 14. That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15. What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16. So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17. They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. 18. But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you. 19. My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you— 20. but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. 21. Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? 22. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman. 23. However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. 24. These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 25. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 26. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27. For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.” 28. Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29. But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30. However what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31. So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman. 1. Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2. Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. 3. Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4. You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace. 5. For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. 6. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love. 7. You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? 8. This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9. A little yeast grows through the whole lump. 10. I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11. But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. 12. I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off. 13. For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. 14. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15. But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. 16. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. 18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19. Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20. idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21. envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23. gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25. If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. 26. Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another. 1. Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted. 2. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3. For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4. But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else. 5. For each man will bear his own burden. 6. But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches. 7. Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9. Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. 10. So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith. 11. See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand. 12. As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised; just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13. For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. 14. But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15. For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16. As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel. 17. From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body. 18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

1. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good. 2. Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God. 3. They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one. 4. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on Yahweh? 5. There they were in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous. 6. You frustrate the plan of the poor, because Yahweh is his refuge. 7. Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.