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

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.

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.

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

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.

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have— the ones God has chosen— but the hearts of the rest were hardened.

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.For the same God who said,“ You must not commit adultery,” also said,“ You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say,“ Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say,“ It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.

Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it.

If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it.( The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

“ Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance— all who seek the Lord! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined.

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.