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33  Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes ♦︎
   and I shall keep it to the end.
34  Give me understanding and I shall keep your law; ♦︎
   I shall keep it with my whole heart.
35  Lead me in the path of your commandments, ♦︎
   for therein is my delight.
36  Incline my heart to your testimonies ♦︎
   and not to unjust gain.
37  Turn away my eyes lest they gaze on vanities; ♦︎
   O give me life in your ways.
38  Confirm to your servant your promise, ♦︎
   which stands for all who fear you.
39  Turn away the reproach which I dread, ♦︎
   because your judgements are good.
40  Behold, I long for your commandments; ♦︎
   in your righteousness give me life.
41  Let your faithful love come unto me, O Lord, ♦︎
   even your salvation, according to your promise.
42  Then shall I answer those who taunt me, ♦︎
   for my trust is in your word.
43  O take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, ♦︎
   for my hope is in your judgements.
44  So shall I always keep your law; ♦︎
   I shall keep it for ever and ever.
45  I will walk at liberty, ♦︎
   because I study your commandments.
46  I will tell of your testimonies, even before kings, ♦︎
   and will not be ashamed.
47  My delight shall be in your commandments, ♦︎
   which I have greatly loved.
48  My hands will I lift up to your commandments,
      which I love, ♦︎
   and I will meditate on your statutes.

The Promise to Abraham

15 Brothers and sisters,^* I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will^* has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. ¹⁶Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring;^* it does not say, ‘And to offsprings’,^* as of many; but it says, ‘And to your offspring’,^* that is, to one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷My point is this: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

The Purpose of the Law

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring^* would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. ²⁰Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. ²²But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ^* might be given to those who believe.