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.
Now, I say, as long as the heir is a minor, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all.
2 For he is under tutors and caretakers, until the time which was predetermined by the father.
For he is under tutors and stewards, until the time before appointed by his father.
3 So also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences of the world.
So, also, we, whilst we were minors, were in bondage 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 fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons.
that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: “Abba, Father.”
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, 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 that you are no more a bondman, but a son, and if a son, then heir of God through Christ.
8 But then, certainly, while ignorant of God, you served those who, by nature, are not gods.
But formerly indeed, when you knew not God, you served those, who by nature were 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 acknowledged God, (or rather, being acknowledged by God, ) why do you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which again, a second time, you incline to be in bondage?
10 You serve the days, and months, and times, and years.
You carefully observe days and moons, and seasons and years.
11 I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I may have labored in vain among you.
I am afraid of you, lest perhaps, I have labored in vain among you.
12 Brothers, I beg you. Be as I am. For I, too, am like you. You have not injured me at all.
Brethren, I pray you, be as I am: for I am you are. You have injured me in nothing.
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 know, indeed, that in weakness of the flesh, I declared the gospel to you at first.
14 You did not despise or reject me. But instead, you accepted me like an Angel of God, even like Christ Jesus.
Yet that trial of mine, which was in my flesh, you did not despise; neither did you reject me, but received me as an angel of God, even 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.
What, then, was your happiness! for I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes, and given them to me.
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Am I, then, become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them.
They love you ardently, not honorably. Yes, they wish to exclude us, that you may love them ardently.
18 But be imitators of what is good, always in a good way, and not only when I am present with you.
But it is honorable to be ardently in love with a good man at all times, and not merely when I am present with you.
19 My little sons, I am giving birth to you again, until Christ is formed in you.
My little children, for whom I travail in birth again till Christ 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.
I could wish, indeed, to be present with you now, and to change my speech; for I am exceedingly in doubt concerning you.
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?
Tell me, you who wish to be under the law, do you 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 the bondmaid, and one by the free woman.
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 he, indeed, who was of the bondmaid, was begotten according to the flesh; but he who was of the free woman, was 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 women are two institutions; the one, indeed, from Mount Sinai, bringing forth 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 the name of Hagar denotes Mount Sinai, in Arabia, ) and she answers to the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same is our mother.
But the Jerusalem above, is the free woman, 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, O barren woman, who didst not bring forth! Break out and cry, thou who travailest not in birth; for more are the children of the deserted, than of her who had the husband."
28 Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise.
We, therefore, brethren, like Isaac, are children by 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 even as then, he who was begotten according to the flesh, persecuted him who was begotten according to the Spirit: so also 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 bondmaid and her son; for the son of the bondmaid shall not inherit with the son of the free woman."
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.
Well, then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondmaid, but of the free woman.
