The people of Israel tried to obey the law to make themselves right with God. But they didn’t reach their goal of being right with God.

但以色列人追求律法的义，反得不着律法的义。

但以色列人追求律法的义，反而达不到律法的义。

但以色列人追求律法的义，反而达不到律法的义。

以色列人靠遵行律法追求义，却徒劳无功。

但以色列人追求律法的义（“律法的义”原文作“义的律法”），却达不到律法的要求。

而以色列人追求律法的义，却没有达到律法的义。

但以色列人追求律法的義，反得不着律法的義。

但以色列人追求律法的義，反而達不到律法的義。

但以色列人追求律法的義，反而達不到律法的義。

以色列人靠遵行律法追求義，卻徒勞無功。

但以色列人追求律法的義（“律法的義”原文作“義的律法”），卻達不到律法的要求。

而以色列追求着稱義的律法，反而達不到律法。

而以色列人追求律法的義，卻沒有達到律法的義。

惟以色列人趨義之律而不及、

以色列民、以法求稱義而不得、何歟、

惟以色列人尋稱義之法、而不得其法、

義塞人求義於律法之中、而終未之得也。

but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.

but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.

But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.

But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law.

however, Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

But Israel, pursuing the law for righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law.

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it.

but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness.

What should we say then? The people of Israel did not receive what they wanted so badly. Those Israelites who were chosen did receive it. But the rest of the people were made stubborn.

Suppose you keep the whole law but trip over just one part of it. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it.God said,“ Do not commit adultery.”( Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) He also said,“ Do not commit murder.”( Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) Suppose you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder. Then you have broken the law.

I say it again. Every man who lets himself be circumcised must obey the whole law.Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.

As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the law is concerned, I kept it perfectly.

I can tell you for certain that they really want to serve God. But how they are trying to do it is not based on knowledge.They didn’t know that God’s power makes people right with himself. They tried to get right with God in their own way. They didn’t do it in God’s way.Christ has fulfilled everything the law was meant to do. So now everyone who believes can be right with God.

All who depend on obeying the law are under a curse. It is written,“ May everyone who doesn’t continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law be under God’s curse.”( Deuteronomy 27:26)We know that no one who depends on the law is made right with God. This is because“ the one who is right with God will live by faith.”( Habakkuk 2:4)

What should we say then? Gentiles did not look for a way to be right with God. But they found it by having faith.The people of Israel tried to obey the law to make themselves right with God. But they didn’t reach their goal of being right with God.Why not? Because they tried to do it without faith. They tried to be right with God by what they did. They tripped over the stone that causes people to trip and fall.

So is the law opposed to God’s promises? Certainly not! What if a law had been given that could give life? Then people could become right with God by obeying the law.

Do those who depend on the law receive the promise? If they do, faith would mean nothing. God’s promise would be worthless.The law brings God’s anger. Where there is no law, the law can’t be broken.

The Lord says,“ Listen to me, you who want to do what is right. Pay attention, you who look to me. Consider the rock you were cut out of. Think about the rock pit you were dug from.

So no one will be considered right with God by obeying the law. Instead, the law makes us more aware of our sin.