Day 56 of 365

¹But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;

²but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.

³So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.

⁴But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,

⁵that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.

⁶And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"

⁷So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God.

⁸However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

⁹But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?

¹⁰You observe days, months, seasons, and years.

¹¹I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

¹²I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,

¹³but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time;

¹⁴and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

¹⁵Where was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

¹⁶So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

¹⁷They zealously seek you, but for no good purpose; they desire to alienate you, that you may be zealous for them.

¹⁸But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.

¹⁹My children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you-

²⁰but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

²¹Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?

²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman.

²³However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

²⁴These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

²⁵For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

²⁶But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

²⁷For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who do not bear. Break forth and shout, you that do not travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."

²⁸Now you, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

²⁹But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

³⁰However what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman."

³¹So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.

¹Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

²Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.

³Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

⁴You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

⁵For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

⁷You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?

⁸This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

⁹A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

¹⁰I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

¹¹But I, brothers, if I still proclaim circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.

¹²I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.

¹³For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only do not use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

¹⁴For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

¹⁵But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you do not consume one another.

¹⁶But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

¹⁷For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

²⁰idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

²¹envyings, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

²⁴Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

¹Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also are not tempted.

²Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ.

³For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

⁴But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor.

⁵For each man will bear his own burden.

⁶But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.

⁷Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

⁸For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

⁹Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we do not give up.

¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

¹¹See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.

¹²As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

¹³For even they who receive circumcision do not keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

¹⁴But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

¹⁵For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

¹⁶As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God's Israel.

¹⁷From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.

¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

¹Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.

²My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.

³When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

⁴In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

⁵All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.

⁶They conspire and lurk, watching my steps, they are eager to take my life.

⁷Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.

⁸You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren't they in your book?

⁹Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this, that God is for me.

¹⁰In God, I will praise his word. In the Lord, I will praise his word.

¹¹I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

¹²Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.

¹³For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

¹These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

³As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;

⁵Take away the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;

⁷for it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.

⁸Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

⁹Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another;

¹⁰lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.

¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

¹²As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.

¹³As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

¹⁴As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.

¹⁵By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.

¹⁶Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

¹⁷Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

¹⁸A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

¹⁹Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.

²⁰As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:

²²for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

²³The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

²⁴It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.

²⁵Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

²⁶Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

²⁸Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.