Galatians 3:6-22

New American Standard Bible 1995

^6 [a]Even so ^(A)Abraham ^(B)believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. ⁷ Therefore, ^[b]be sure that ^(C)it is those who are of faith who are ^(D)sons of Abraham. ⁸ The Scripture, foreseeing that God ^[c]would justify the ^[d]Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “^(E)All the nations will be blessed in you.” ⁹ So then ^(F)those who are of faith are blessed with ^[e]Abraham, the believer.

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of ^[f]the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “^(G)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” ¹¹ Now that ^(H)no one is justified ^[g]by ^[h]the Law before God is evident; for, “^[i](I)The righteous man shall live by faith.” ^12 [j]However, the Law is not ^[k]of faith; on the contrary, “^(J)He who practices them shall live ^[l]by them.” ¹³ Christ ^(K)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “^(L)Cursed is everyone who hangs on ^(M)a ^[m]tree”— ¹⁴ in order that ^(N)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ^[n]come to the Gentiles, so that we ^(O)would receive ^(P)the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

^15 (Q)Brethren, ^(R)I speak ^[o]in terms of human relations: ^(S)even though it is only a man’s ^[p]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds ^[q]conditions to it. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken ^(T)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “^(U)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. ¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came ^(V)four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For ^(W)if the inheritance is ^[r]based on law, it is no longer ^[s]based on a promise; but ^(X)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

^19 (Y)Why the Law then? It was added ^[t]because of transgressions, having been ^(Z)ordained through angels ^(AA)by the ^[u]agency of a mediator, until ^(AB)the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now ^(AC)a mediator is not ^[v]for one party only; whereas God is only one. ²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^(AD)May it never be! For ^(AE)if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness ^[w]would indeed have been ^[x]based on law. ²² But the Scripture has ^(AF)shut up ^[y]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.