Galatians 3:10-22

English Standard Version

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

¹⁰ For all who rely on works of the law are ^(A)under a curse; for it is written, ^(B)“Cursed be everyone who does not ^(C)abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” ¹¹ Now it is evident that ^(D)no one is justified before God by the law, for ^(E)“The righteous shall live by faith.”^{[a] 12} But the law is not of faith, rather ^(F)“The one who does them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ ^(G)redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ^(H)“Cursed is everyone who is hanged ^(I)on a tree”— ¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might ^(J)come to the Gentiles, so that ^(K)we might receive ^(L)the promised Spirit^[b] through faith.

The Law and the Promise

^15 (M)To give a human example, brothers:^{[c] (N)}even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. ¹⁶ Now ^(O)the promises were made ^(P)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, ^(Q)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came ^(R)430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as ^(S)to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but ^(T)God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

¹⁹ Why then the law? ^(U)It was added because of transgressions, ^(V)until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ^(W)put in place through angels ^(X)by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now ^(Y)an intermediary implies more than one, but ^(Z)God is one.

²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For ^(AA)if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture ^(AB)imprisoned everything under sin, so that ^(AC)the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given ^(AD)to those who believe.