Galatians 4
1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,
Now I say that so long as an heir is a child, he in no respect differs from a slave, although he is the owner of everything,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
but he is under the control of guardians and trustees until the time his father has appointed.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
So we also, when spiritually we were children, were subject to the world's rudimentary notions, and were enslaved.
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
But, when the time was fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born subject to Law,
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
in order to purchase the freedom of all who were subject to Law, so that we might receive recognition as sons.
6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of His Son to enter your hearts and cry "Abba! our Father!"
7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir also through God's own act.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
But at one time, you Gentiles, having no knowledge of God, were slaves to gods which in reality do not exist.
9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
Now, however, having come to know God--or rather to be known by Him--how is it you are again turning back to weak and worthless rudimentary notions to which you are once more willing to be enslaved?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
You scrupulously observe days and months, special seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
I am alarmed about you, and am afraid that I have perhaps bestowed labour upon you to no purpose.
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
Brethren, become as I am, I beseech you; for I have also become like you. In no respect did you behave badly to me.
13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
And you know that in those early days it was on account of bodily infirmity that I proclaimed the Good News to you,
14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you did not despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
and yet the bodily infirmity which was such a trial to you, you did not regard with contempt or loathing, but you received me as if I had been an angel of God or Christ Jesus Himself!
15 What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
I ask you, then, what has become of your self-congratulations? For I bear you witness that had it been possible you would have torn out your own eyes and have given them to me.
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Can it be that I have become your enemy through speaking the truth to you?
17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
These men pay court to you, but not with honourable motives. They want to exclude you, so that you may pay court to them.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
It is always an honourable thing to be courted in an honourable cause; always, and not only when I am with you, my children--
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
you for whom I am again, as it were, undergoing the pains of childbirth, until Christ is fully formed within you.
20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Would that I were with you and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do not you listen to the law?
Tell me--you who want to continue to be subject to Law--will you not listen to the Law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-girl and one by the free woman.
23 However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
But we see that the child of the slave-girl was born in the common course of nature; but the child of the free woman in fulfilment of the promise.
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
All this is allegorical; for the women represent two Covenants. One has its origin on Mount Sinai, and bears children destined for slavery.
25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
This is Hagar; for the name Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage together with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
But the Jerusalem which is above is free, and she is our mother.
27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who do not bear. Break out and shout, you who do not travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren woman that bearest not, break forth into a joyful cry, thou that dost not travail with child. For the desolate woman has many children--more indeed than she who has the husband."
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
But you, brethren, like Isaac, are children born in fulfilment of a promise.
29 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
Yet just as, at that time, the child born in the common course of nature persecuted the one whose birth was due to the power of the Spirit, so it is now.
30 However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
But what says the Scripture? "Send away the slave-girl and her son, for never shall the slave-girl's son share the inheritance with the son of the free woman."
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
Therefore, brethren, since we are not the children of a slave-girl, but of the free woman--
