Galatians 4
1 But I say that, during the time an heir is a child, he is no different from a servant, even though he is the owner of everything.
But I say, so long as the heir is an infant, he differs not from a slave, being lord of all things,
2 For he is under tutors and caretakers, until the time which was predetermined by the father.
but he is under nurses and stewards until the adoption of the father.
3 So also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences of the world.
So also we, when we were infants, were enslaved under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law,
but when the fulness of time came, God sent forth his own Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under law,
5 so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons.
in order that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive the adoption of sonship.
6 Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: “Abba, Father.”
But because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his own Son into our hearts, crying, Father, Father.
7 And so now he is not a servant, but a son. But if he is a son, then he is also an heir, through God.
So you are no longer a servant but a son; and if a son, truly an heir through God.
8 But then, certainly, while ignorant of God, you served those who, by nature, are not gods.
But you indeed, not knowing God, at that time served those who by nature are not gods:
9 But now, since you have known God, or rather, since you have been known by God: how can you turn away again, to weak and destitute influences, which you desire to serve anew?
but now having known God, and rather having become known of God, how do you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements which you wish to serve again as formerly?
10 You serve the days, and months, and times, and years.
Do you keep days, and months, and times and years?
11 I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I may have labored in vain among you.
I fear lest I have labored unto you in vain.
12 Brothers, I beg you. Be as I am. For I, too, am like you. You have not injured me at all.
Be ye as I am, because I am as you are, brethren, I am praying for you.
13 But you know that, in the weakness of the flesh, I have preached the Gospel to you for a long time, and that your trials are in my flesh.
You have not injured me: you know that through weakness of the flesh I formerly preached the gospel unto you:
14 You did not despise or reject me. But instead, you accepted me like an Angel of God, even like Christ Jesus.
and you did not despise, nor spit upon, your temptation in my flesh; but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore, where is your happiness? For I offer to you testimony that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me.
Where then is your happiness? for I testify to you that, if possible, having plucked out your eyes, you would have given them to me.
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Therefore have I become your enemy, telling you the truth?
17 They are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them.
They zealously seek you in no good way; but they wish to exclude you, in order that you may zealously seek them.
18 But be imitators of what is good, always in a good way, and not only when I am present with you.
It is good always to be zealous in a good thing, and not only in my coming to you.
19 My little sons, I am giving birth to you again, until Christ is formed in you.
My children, for whom I again travail in pain until Christ may be formed in you,
20 And I would willingly be present with you, even now. But I would alter my voice: for I am ashamed of you.
but I wish to come unto you now, and change my voice; because I am at a loss in reference to you.
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?
Tell me, you wish to be under law, do you not hear the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a servant woman, and one by a free woman.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons; one by a bond-maid and one by a freewoman.
23 And he who was of the servant was born according to the flesh. But he who was of the free woman was born by the promise.
But the one indeed of the bond-maid was born according to the flesh, and the one of the freewoman through the promise.
24 These things are said through an allegory. For these represent the two testaments. Certainly the one, on Mount Sinai, gives birth unto servitude, which is Hagar.
Which things are allegorized: for these are the two covenants; the one indeed from mount Sinai, generating children into bondage, which is Hagar.
25 For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is related to the Jerusalem of the present time, and it serves with her sons.
For this mount Sinai is in Arabia, and corresponds with Jerusalem which now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
26 But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same is our mother.
But Jerusalem who is above is free, who is our mother:
27 For it was written: “Rejoice, O barren one, though you do not conceive. Burst forth and cry out, though you do not give birth. For many are the children of the desolate, even more than of her who has a husband.”
for it is written, Rejoice, thou barren one who does not bring forth; break forth and cry aloud, thou that dost not travail: because many more are the children of the barren than of her having a husband.
28 Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise.
But you, brethren, are the children of Isaac, according to the promise.
29 But just as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
But as the one at that time having been born according to the flesh persecuted the one according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 And what does Scripture say? “Cast out the woman servant and her son. For the son of a servant women shall not be an heir with the son of a free woman.”
But what says the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not inherit with the son of the free.
31 And so, brothers, we are not the sons of the servant woman, but rather of the free woman. And this is the freedom with which Christ has set us free.
Therefore, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
