6:7a
Do not be deceived: This clause means that the Galatians should not deceive themselves. They should not deceive themselves by thinking that they can follow the old sinful habits without experiencing God’s judgment.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
Do not deceive yourselves. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Do not be fooled (New Century Version)
-or-
Do not lie to yourselves
God is not to be mocked: This clause means that God is not one to be mocked/ridiculed. Those who live in sin ridicule God. God will not overlook sin. So the Galatians deceive themselves if they think that God will not see their sin and punish them.
Some other ways to translate this sentence are:
no one makes a fool of God (Good News Translation)
-or-
You cannot cheat God. (New Century Version)
-or-
Do not try to trick/outwit God.
6:7b
In this verse part, Paul gave the reason for what he said in 6:7a. We should not deceive ourselves into thinking that we can trick God, for/because we will reap what we sow. Paul introduced this explanation with a Greek conjunction that most English versions translate as “for.” The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the New International Version and New Living Translation (2004), also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 6:7b to 6:7a in a way that is natural in your language.
Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return: This was a well-known proverb/saying. Paul used it to explain that God will reward those who live a godly life. He will punish those who sin. This proverb is further explained in 6:8.
Some other ways to translate this proverb are:
whatever a person sows, that is what he will reap.
-or-
what someone plants, that’s also what he will harvest.
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