5:1 For freedom ¹  Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke ²  of slavery. 5:2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 5:3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey ³  the whole law. 5:4 You who are trying to be declared righteous ⁴  by the law have been alienated ⁵  from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love. ⁶ 

5:7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying ⁷  the truth? 5:8 This persuasion ⁸  does not come from the one who calls you! 5:9 A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise! ⁹  5:10 I am confident ¹⁰  in the Lord that you will accept no other view. ¹¹  But the one who is confusing ¹²  you will pay the penalty, ¹³  whoever he may be. 5:11 Now, brothers and sisters, ¹⁴  if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? ¹⁵  In that case the offense of the cross ¹⁶  has been removed. ¹⁷  5:12 I wish those agitators ¹⁸  would go so far as to ¹⁹  castrate themselves! ²⁰ 

5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; ²¹  only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, ²²  but through love serve one another. ²³