⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.

²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

¹² These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and as those creatures are destroyed,^[a] they also will be destroyed,

⁴ is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,^(A)

⁵ Well then, does God^[a] supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?

¹⁰ There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision;^{(A) 11} they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach.^(B)

⁷ who are always studying yet never able to recognize truth.

² The 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?^(A)

¹⁹ and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,^{(A) 21} you, then, who teach others, will you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?^(B)

³ Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. ⁴ You who want to be reckoned as righteous^[a] by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.^(A)