Galatians 4
1 Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all;
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,
2 but he is under guardians and stewards until the period fixed by the father.
but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;
So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
4 but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, come of woman, come under law,
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
5 that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship.
that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
6 But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7 So thou art no longer bondman, but son; but if son, heir also through God.
So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 But then indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods;
However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
9 but now, knowing God, but rather being known by God, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly principles to which ye desire to be again anew in bondage?
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?
10 Ye observe days and months and times and years.
You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.
I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labour for you.
12 Be as I [am], for I also [am] as ye, brethren, I beseech you: ye have not at all wronged me.
I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
13 But ye know that in weakness of the flesh I announced the glad tidings to you at the first;
but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
14 and my temptation, which [was] in my flesh, ye did not slight nor reject with contempt; but ye received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 What then [was] your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye would have given [them] to me.
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.
16 So I have become your enemy in speaking the truth to you?
So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They are not rightly zealous after you, but desire to shut you out [from us], that ye may be zealous after them.
They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
18 But [it is] right to be zealous at all times in what is right, and not only when I am present with you —
But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
19 my children, of whom I again travail in birth until Christ shall have been formed in you:
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
20 and I should wish to be present with you now, and change my voice, for I am perplexed as to you.
but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not listen to the law?
Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons; one of the maid servant, and one of the free woman.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
23 But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through the promise.
However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
24 Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar.
These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
25 For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which [is] now, for she is in bondage with her children;
For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break out and cry, thou that travailest not; because the children of the desolate are more numerous than [those] of her that has a husband.
For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
28 But ye, brethren, after the pattern of Isaac, are children of promise.
Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him [that was born] according to Spirit, so also [it is] now.
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.
30 But what says the scripture? Cast out the maid servant and her son; for the son of the maid servant shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.
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.”
31 So then, brethren, we are not maid servant's children, but [children] of the free woman.
So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
