Galatians 4
1 And I say, now as much time as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a servant, [though] being lord of all,
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，
2 but is under tutors and stewards until the time appointed of the father,
乃在師傅和管家的手下，直等他父親預定的時候來到。
3 so we also, when we were children, were in servitude under the elements of the world,
我們為孩童的時候，受管於世俗小學之下，也是如此。
4 and when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under law,
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，
5 that He may redeem those under law, that we may receive the adoption as sons;
要把律法以下的人贖出來，叫我們得着兒子的名分。
6 and because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
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！」
7 So that you are no longer a servant, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.
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。
8 But then, indeed, having not known God, you were in servitude to those [that are] not by nature gods,
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；
9 and now, having known God—and rather being known by God—how [do] you turn again to the weak and poor elements to which you desire anew to be in servitude?
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？
10 You observe days, and months, and times, and years!
你們謹守日子、月份、節期、年份，
11 I am afraid for you, lest I labored in vain for you.
我為你們害怕，惟恐我在你們身上是枉費了工夫。
12 I implore you, brothers, become as I [am]—because I also [am] as you; you did not hurt me;
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。
13 and you have known that through weakness of the flesh I proclaimed good news to you at the first,
你們知道我頭一次傳福音給你們，是因為身體有疾病。
14 and you did not despise nor reject my trial that [is] in my flesh, but you received me as a messenger of God—as Christ Jesus;
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。
15 what then was your blessedness? For I testify to you, that if possible, having plucked out your eyes, you would have given [them] to me;
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。
16 so have I become your enemy, being true to you?
如今我將真理告訴你們，就成了你們的仇敵嗎？
17 They are zealous for you—[yet] not well, but they wish to shut us out, that you may be zealous for them;
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。
18 and [it is] good to be zealously regarded, in what is good, at all times, and not only in my being present with you;
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。
19 my little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ may be formed in you,
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。
20 indeed I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.
我巴不得現今在你們那裏，改換口氣，因我為你們心裏作難。
21 Tell me, you who are willing to be under law, do you not hear the Law?
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？
22 For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one by the maidservant and one by the free [woman],
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。
23 but he who [is] of the maidservant has been according to flesh, but he who [is] of the free [woman], through the promise,
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。
24 which things are allegorized, for these are the two covenants: one, indeed, from Mount Sinai, bringing forth to servitude, which is Hagar;
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。
25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the Jerusalem that now [is], and is in servitude with her children,
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。
26 and the Jerusalem above is the free [woman], which is mother of us all,
但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我們的母。
27 for it has been written: “Rejoice, O barren, who is not bearing; break forth and cry, you who are not travailing, because many [are] the children of the desolate—more than of her having the husband.”
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。
28 And we, brothers, as Isaac, are children of promise,
弟兄們，我們是憑着應許作兒女，如同以撒一樣。
29 but as he then who was born according to the flesh persecuted him [born] according to the Spirit, so also now;
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。
30 but what does the Writing say? “Cast forth the maidservant and her son, for the son of the maidservant may not be heir with the son of the free [woman]”;
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。」
31 then, brothers, we are not a maidservant’s children, but the free [woman’s].
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。
