⁵ For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. ² Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! ³ And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴ You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight—the only thing that matters is faith working through love.

⁷ You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you! ⁹ A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise! ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will accept no other view. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. ¹¹ Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish those agitators would go so far as to castrate themselves!

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. ¹⁶ But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

⁶ Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. ² Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. ⁵ For each one will carry his own load.

⁶ Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. ⁷ Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, ⁸ because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹ So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

¹¹ See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand!

¹² Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh. ¹⁴ But may I never 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 neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! ¹⁶ And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

⁷ A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjaminite named Cush.

O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter.

Deliver me from all who chase me. Rescue me!

² Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion;

they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.

³ O Lord my God, if I have done what they say,

or am guilty of unjust actions,

⁴ or have wronged my ally,

or helped his lawless enemy,

⁵ may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me;

may he trample me to death

and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)

⁶ Stand up angrily, Lord.

Rise up with raging fury against my enemies.

Wake up for my sake, and execute the judgment you have decreed for them.

⁷ The countries are assembled all around you;

take once more your rightful place over them.

⁸ The Lord judges the nations.

Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent,

because I am blameless, O Exalted One.

⁹ May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end.

But make the innocent secure,

O righteous God,

you who examine inner thoughts and motives.

¹⁰ The Exalted God is my shield,

the one who delivers the morally upright.

¹¹ God is a just judge;

he is angry throughout the day.

¹² If a person does not repent, God will wield his sword.

He has prepared to shoot his bow.

¹³ He has prepared deadly weapons to use against him;

he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.

¹⁴ See the one who is pregnant with wickedness,

who conceives destructive plans,

and gives birth to harmful lies—

¹⁵ he digs a pit

and then falls into the hole he has made.

¹⁶ He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans—

and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head.

¹⁷ I will thank the Lord for his justice;

I will sing praises to the Lord Most High!