13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. (A)Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love (B)serve one another. 14 For (C)the whole law is fulfilled in one word: (D)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you (E)bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

16 But I say, (F)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify (G)the desires of the flesh. 17 For (H)the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, (I)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are (J)led by the Spirit, (K)you are not under the law. 19 Now (L)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, (M)divisions, 21 envy,[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that (N)those who do[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But (O)the fruit of the Spirit is (P)love, joy, peace, patience, (Q)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 (R)gentleness, (S)self-control; (T)against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (U)have crucified the flesh with its (V)passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, (W)let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 (X)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:21 Some manuscripts add murder
  2. Galatians 5:21 Or make a practice of doing

Life by the Spirit

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(A) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(B) rather, serve one another(C) humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](D) 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(E) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(F) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(G) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.(H) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(I) you are not under the law.(J)

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(K) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(L) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(M)

22 But the fruit(N) of the Spirit is love,(O) joy, peace,(P) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(Q) Against such things there is no law.(R) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(S) with its passions and desires.(T) 25 Since we live by the Spirit,(U) let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,(V) provoking and envying each other.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
  2. Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18
  3. Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what