Day 55 of 365

¹Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),

²and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:

³Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,

⁴who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father-

⁵to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

⁶I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different "good news";

⁷and there is not another "good news." Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.

⁸But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you any "good news" other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.

⁹As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any "good news" other than that which you received, let him be cursed.

¹⁰For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

¹¹But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.

¹²For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹³For you have heard of my way of living in time past in Judaism, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and ravaged it.

¹⁴I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

¹⁵But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace,

¹⁶to reveal his Son in me, that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

¹⁷nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.

¹⁸Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.

¹⁹But of the other apostles I saw no one, except Jacob, the Lord's brother.

²⁰Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I'm not lying.

²¹Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

²²I was still unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ,

²³but they only heard: "He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy."

²⁴And they glorified God because of me.

¹Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.

²I went up by revelation, and I explained to them the Good News which I proclaim among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

³But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

⁴This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;

⁵to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you.

⁶But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God does not show partiality to man)-they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

⁷but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision

⁸(for he who appointed Peter to be an apostle of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles);

⁹and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, Jacob and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

¹⁰They only asked us to remember the poor-which very thing I was also zealous to do.

¹¹But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.

¹²For before some people came from Jacob, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

¹³And the rest of the Jewish believers joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

¹⁴But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, how can you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

¹⁵"We, being Jews by birth, and not Gentile sinners,

¹⁶yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

¹⁷But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!

¹⁸For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.

¹⁹For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.

²⁰I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

²¹I do not make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"

¹Foolish Galatians, who has cunningly deceived you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth as crucified?

²I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

³Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?

⁴Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

⁵He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

⁶Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

⁷Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.

⁸The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed."

⁹So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

¹⁰For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that are written in the scroll of the Law, to do them."

¹¹Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, "The righteous will live by faith."

¹²The law is not of faith, but, "The man who does them will live by them."

¹³Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"

¹⁴that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

¹⁵Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it.

¹⁶Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "To seeds," as of many, but as of one, "To your seed," which is Christ.

¹⁷Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

¹⁸For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

¹⁹What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

²⁰Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.

²¹Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

²²But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

²⁴So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

²⁶For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

²⁷For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

²⁹If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise.

¹Listen to my prayer, God. Do not hide yourself from my supplication.

²Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

³Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.

⁴My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.

⁵Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

⁶I said, "Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

⁷Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness." Selah.

⁸"I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm."

⁹Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.

¹¹Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies do not depart from her streets.

¹²For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hid myself from him.

¹³But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.

¹⁴We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God's house with company.

¹⁵Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

¹⁶As for me, I will call on God. The Lord will save me.

¹⁷Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.

¹⁸He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.

¹⁹God, who is enthroned forever, will hear, and answer them. Selah. They never change, who do not fear God.

²⁰He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.

²¹His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

²²Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

²³But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.

¹Do not be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:

²for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.

³Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;

⁴by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

⁵A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;

⁶for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.

⁷Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.

⁸One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.

⁹The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.

¹⁰If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.

¹¹Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!

¹²If you say, "Behold, we did not know this;" doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?

¹³My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:

¹⁴so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place:

¹⁶for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

¹⁷Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;

¹⁸lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

¹⁹Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:

²⁰for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.

²¹My son, fear the Lord and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious:

²²for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both-who knows?

²³These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

²⁴He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him-

²⁵but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.

²⁶An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

²⁷Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

²⁸Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your lips.

²⁹Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."

³⁰I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

³¹Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

³²Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

³³a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;

³⁴so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.