Paul Accepted by the Apostles
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those lwho seemed influential) the gospel that mI proclaim among the Gentiles, nin order to make sure I was not running or had not orun in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, pwas not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 qYet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who rslipped in to spy out sour freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, tso that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that uthe truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those vwho seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; wGod shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential xadded nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been yentrusted with zthe gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, vwho seemed to be apillars, perceived the bgrace that was given to me, they cgave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, dthe very thing I was eager to do.
Paul Opposes Peter
11 But ewhen Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him fto his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, ghe was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing hthe circumcision party.1 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their iconduct was not in step with jthe truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas kbefore them all, “If you, though a Jew, llive like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Justified by Faith
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not mGentile sinners; 16 yet we know that na person is not justified2 by works of the law obut through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, pbecause by works of the law no one will be justified.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found qto be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I rdied to the law, so that I might slive to God. 20 I have been tcrucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives uin me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, vwho loved me and wgave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for xif righteousness3 were through the law, ythen Christ died for no purpose.
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who zhates reproof is astupid.
2 A good man bobtains favor from the Lord,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
3 No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of cthe righteous will never be moved.
4 dAn excellent wife is ethe crown of her husband,
but she who fbrings shame is like grottenness in his bones.
5 hThe thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked ilie in wait for blood,
but jthe mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 kThe wicked are loverthrown and are no more,
mbut the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is ndespised.
9 Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
10 oWhoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11 pWhoever works his land qwill have plenty of bread,
rbut he who follows sworthless pursuits lacks sense.
12 Whoever is wicked covets tthe spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 An evil man is ensnared uby the transgression of his lips,1
vbut the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth wa man is satisfied with good,
xand the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
15 yThe way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
16 zThe vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 aWhoever speaks2 the truth gives honest evidence,
but ba false witness utters deceit.
18 cThere is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings dhealing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but ea lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of fthose who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
21 gNo ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 hLying lips are ian abomination to the Lord,
jbut those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 kA prudent man conceals knowledge,
kbut the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 lThe hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be mput to forced labor.
25 nAnxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,3
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 oWhoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.4
28 pIn the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
