加拉太書 4
1 再說：承繼人幾時還是孩童，雖然他是一切家業的主人，卻與奴隸沒有分別，
And I say, now as much time as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a servant, [though] being lord of all,
2 仍屬於監護人和代理人的權下，直到父親預定的期限。
but is under tutors and stewards until the time appointed of the father,
3 同樣，當我們以前還作孩童的時候，我們是隸屬今世的蒙學權下；
so we also, when we were children, were in servitude under the elements of the world,
4 但時期一滿，天主就派遣了自己的兒子來，生於女人，生於法律之下，
and when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under law,
5 為把在法律之下的人贖出來，使我們獲得義子的地位。
that He may redeem those under law, that we may receive the adoption as sons;
6 為證實你們確實的天主的子女，天主派遣了自己兒子的聖神，到我們內心喊說：「阿爸，父啊! 」
and because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
7 所以你已不再是奴隸，而是兒子了；如果是兒子，賴天主的恩寵，也成了承繼人。
So that you are no longer a servant, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.
8 當你們還不認識天主的時候，服事了一些本來不是神的神；
But then, indeed, having not known God, you were in servitude to those [that are] not by nature gods,
9 但如今你們認識了天主，更好說為天主所認識；那麼，你們怎麼又再回到那無能無用的蒙學裏去，情願再作他們的奴隸呢﹖
and now, having known God—and rather being known by God—how [do] you turn again to the weak and poor elements to which you desire anew to be in servitude?
10 你們竟又謹守某日、某月、某時、某年!
You observe days, and months, and times, and years!
11 我真為你們擔心，怕我白白地為你們辛苦了。
I am afraid for you, lest I labored in vain for you.
12 弟兄們! 我懇求你們要像我一樣，因為我曾一度也像你們一樣。你們一點也沒有虧負過我。
I implore you, brothers, become as I [am]—because I also [am] as you; you did not hurt me;
13 你們知道：當我初次給你們宣講福音時，正當我身患重病，
and you have known that through weakness of the flesh I proclaimed good news to you at the first,
14 雖然我的病勢為你們是個試探，你們卻沒有輕看我，也沒有厭棄我，反接待我有如一位天主的天使，有如基督耶穌。
and you did not despise nor reject my trial that [is] in my flesh, but you received me as a messenger of God—as Christ Jesus;
15 那麼，你們當日所慶幸的在那裡呢﹖我敢為你們作證：如若可能，你們那時也會把你們的眼睛挖出來給我。
what then was your blessedness? For I testify to you, that if possible, having plucked out your eyes, you would have given [them] to me;
16 那麼，只因我給你們說實話，就成了你們的仇人嗎﹖
so have I become your enemy, being true to you?
17 那些人對你們表示關心，並不懷好好意； 他們只是願意使你們與我隔絕，好叫你們也關心他們。
They are zealous for you—[yet] not well, but they wish to shut us out, that you may be zealous for them;
18 受人關心固然是好的，但應懷好意，且該常常如此，並不單是我在你們中間的時候。
and [it is] good to be zealously regarded, in what is good, at all times, and not only in my being present with you;
19 我的孩子們! 我願為你們再受產痛，直到基督在你們內形成為止。
my little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ may be formed in you,
20 恨不得我現今就在你們跟前，改變我的聲調，因為我對你們實在放心不下。
indeed I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.
21 你們願意屬於法律的，請告訴我：你們沒有聽見法律說什麼嗎﹖
Tell me, you who are willing to be under law, do you not hear the Law?
22 法律曾記載說：亞巴郎有兩個兒子：一個生於婢女，一個生於自由的婦人。
For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one by the maidservant and one by the free [woman],
23 那生於婢女的，是按常例而生的；但那生於自由婦人的，卻是因恩許而生的。
but he who [is] of the maidservant has been according to flesh, but he who [is] of the free [woman], through the promise,
24 這都含有寓意：那兩個婦人是代表兩個盟約：一是出於西乃山，生子為奴，那即是哈加爾──
which things are allegorized, for these are the two covenants: one, indeed, from Mount Sinai, bringing forth to servitude, which is Hagar;
25 西乃山是在阿剌伯──這哈加爾相當於現在的耶路撒冷，因為耶路撒冷與她的子女同為奴隸。
for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the Jerusalem that now [is], and is in servitude with her children,
26 然而那屬於天上的耶路撒冷卻是自由的，她就是我們的母親：
and the Jerusalem above is the free [woman], which is mother of us all,
27 誠如經上記載說：『不生育的石女，喜樂罷! 未經產痛的女人，歡呼高唱罷! 因為被棄者的子女比有夫者的子女還多。』
for it has been written: “Rejoice, O barren, who is not bearing; break forth and cry, you who are not travailing, because many [are] the children of the desolate—more than of her having the husband.”
28 弟兄們! 你們像依撒格一樣，是恩許的子女。
And we, brothers, as Isaac, are children of promise,
29 但是，先前那按常例而生的怎樣迫害了那按神恩而生的，如今還是這樣。
but as he then who was born according to the flesh persecuted him [born] according to the Spirit, so also now;
30 然而經上說了什麼﹖『你將婢女和她的兒子趕走，因為婢女的兒子不能與自由婦人的兒子，一同承受家業。』
but what does the Writing say? “Cast forth the maidservant and her son, for the son of the maidservant may not be heir with the son of the free [woman]”;
31 所以，弟兄們，我們不是婢女的子女，而是自由婦人的子女。
then, brothers, we are not a maidservant’s children, but the free [woman’s].
