加拉太書 4
1 我說那承受產業的，雖然是全業的主人，但為孩童的時候卻與奴僕毫無分別，
Let me explain what I'm saying. An heir who is under-age is no different from a slave, even though the heir may be the owner of everything.
2 乃在師傅和管家的手下，直等他父親預定的時候來到。
An heir is subject to guardians and managers until the time set by the father.
3 我們為孩童的時候，受管於世俗小學之下，也是如此。
It's just the same for us. When we were children, we were slaves subject to the basic rules of the law.
4 及至時候滿足，上帝就差遣他的兒子，為女子所生，且生在律法以下，
But at the appropriate time God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the rule of law,
5 要把律法以下的人贖出來，叫我們得着兒子的名分。
so that he could rescue those who were kept under the rule of law, so that we could receive the inheritance of adopted children.
6 你們既為兒子，上帝就差他兒子的靈進入你們的心，呼叫：「阿爸！父！」
To show you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son to convince us, causing us to call out, “Abba,” meaning “Father.”
7 可見，從此以後，你不是奴僕，乃是兒子了；既是兒子，就靠着上帝為後嗣。
Since you are now no longer a slave, but a child, and if you are his child, then God has made you his heir.
8 但從前你們不認識上帝的時候，是給那些本來不是神的作奴僕；
At the time when you didn't know God, you were enslaved by the supposed “gods” of this world.
9 現在你們既然認識上帝，更可說是被上帝所認識的，怎麼還要歸回那懦弱無用的小學，情願再給他作奴僕呢？
But now you've come to know God—or better, to be known by God. So how can you go back to those useless and worthless rules? Do you want to be slaves to those rules all over again?
10 你們謹守日子、月份、節期、年份，
You're observing special days and months, seasons and years.
11 我為你們害怕，惟恐我在你們身上是枉費了工夫。
I'm concerned that all I did for you has been wasted!
12 弟兄們，我勸你們要像我一樣，因為我也像你們一樣。你們一點沒有虧負我。
I'm pleading with you, my friends: be like me, because I became like you. You've never treated me badly.
13 你們知道我頭一次傳福音給你們，是因為身體有疾病。
You remember that it was because I was sick that I shared with you the good news on my first visit.
14 你們為我身體的緣故受試煉，沒有輕看我，也沒有厭棄我，反倒接待我，如同上帝的使者，如同基督耶穌。
Even though my illness was difficult for you, you didn't despise or reject me—in fact you treated me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus himself.
15 你們當日所誇的福氣在哪裏呢？那時你們若能行，就是把自己的眼睛剜出來給我，也都情願。這是我可以給你們作見證的。
So what's happened to all your gratefulness? I tell you, back then if you could have pulled out your eyes and given them to me, you would have!
16 如今我將真理告訴你們，就成了你們的仇敵嗎？
So what has happened—have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 那些人熱心待你們，卻不是好意，是要離間你們，叫你們熱心待他們。
These people are keen to gain your support, but not for any good reasons. On the contrary, they want to keep you away from us so that you will enthusiastically support them.
18 在善事上，常用熱心待人原是好的，卻不單我與你們同在的時候才這樣。
Of course it's good to want to do good. But this should be at all times, not just when I'm there with you!
19 我小子啊，我為你們再受生產之苦，直等到基督成形在你們心裏。
My dear friends, I want to work with you until Christ's character is duplicated in you.
20 我巴不得現今在你們那裏，改換口氣，因我為你們心裏作難。
I really wish I could be with you right now so I could change my tone of voice… I'm so worried about you.
21 你們這願意在律法以下的人，請告訴我，你們豈沒有聽見律法嗎？
Answer me this, you people who want to live under the law: Don't you hear what the law is saying?
22 因為律法上記着，亞伯拉罕有兩個兒子，一個是使女生的，一個是自主之婦人生的。
As Scripture says, Abraham had two sons, one from the servant girl, and one from the free woman.
23 然而，那使女所生的是按着血氣生的；那自主之婦人所生的是憑着應許生的。
However, the son from the servant girl was born following a human plan, while the son from the free woman was born as the result of the promise.
24 這都是比方：那兩個婦人就是兩約。一約是出於西奈山，生子為奴，乃是夏甲。
This provides an analogy: these two women represent two agreements. One agreement is from Mount Sinai—Hagar—and she gives birth to slave children.
25 這夏甲二字是指着阿拉伯的西奈山，與現在的耶路撒冷同類，因耶路撒冷和她的兒女都是為奴的。
Hagar symbolizes Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the current Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
26 但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我們的母。
But the heavenly Jerusalem is free. She is our mother.
27 因為經上記着： 不懷孕、不生養的，你要歡樂； 未曾經過產難的，你要高聲歡呼； 因為沒有丈夫的，比有丈夫的兒女更多。
As Scripture says, “Rejoice you who are childless and who have never given birth! Shout aloud for joy, you who have never been in labor—for the abandoned woman has more children than the woman who has a husband!”
28 弟兄們，我們是憑着應許作兒女，如同以撒一樣。
Now my friends, we are children of promise just like Isaac.
29 當時，那按着血氣生的逼迫了那按着聖靈生的，現在也是這樣。
However, just as the one born according to a human plan persecuted the one born through the Spirit, so it is today.
30 然而經上是怎麼說的呢？是說：「把使女和她兒子趕出去！因為使女的兒子不可與自主婦人的兒子一同承受產業。」
But what does Scripture say? “Send away the servant girl and her son, for the son of the servant girl will not be an heir together with the son of the free woman.”
31 弟兄們，這樣看來，我們不是使女的兒女，乃是自主婦人的兒女了。
Therefore, my friends, we're not children of a servant girl, but of the free woman.
