Galatians 4
1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, though he is lord of all;
But I say, that the heir, so long as he is a child, differeth not from a servant, although he is lord of all;
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
but he is under supervisors and stewards, until the time established by his father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
So also we, while we were children, were in subordination under the elements of the world.
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 consummation of the time arrived, God sent forth his Son; and he was from a woman, and was under the law;
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons.
that he might redeem them that were under the law; and that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father."
And, because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, who crieth, Father, our Father.
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God.
Wherefore, ye are no longer servants, but sons; and if sons, then heirs of God; through Jesus the Messiah.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
For then, when ye knew not God, ye served them who in their nature are not gods.
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 enslaved all over again?
But now, since ye have known God, or rather, have been known by God, ye turn yourselves again to the weak and beggarly elements, and wish again to be under them!
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
Ye observe days and moons, and set times, and years!
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
I am afraid, lest I have labored among you in vain.
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
Be ye like me; because I have been like you.
13 but you know that in physical weakness I preached the Good News to you the first time;
My brethren, I beseech you. Ye have not injured me at all. For ye know, that under the infirmity of my flesh, I at first announced the gospel to you;
14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
and the trial in my flesh, ye did not despise nor nauseate: but ye received me as an angel of God, and as Jesus the Messiah.
15 Where 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.
Where then is your blessedness? For I testify of you, that if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes, and have given them to me.
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Have I become an enemy to you, by preaching to you the truth?
17 They zealously seek you, but for no good purpose; they desire to alienate you, that you may be zealous for them.
They are zealous towards you, yet not for good; but they wish to shut you up, that ye may be zealous towards them.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
And it is a good thing to be zealous at all times in good things; and not merely when I am present with you.
19 My children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
Ye are my children, of whom I travail in birth again, till the Messiah be formed in you.
20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
And I could wish to be now with you, and to change the tone of my voice; because I am astonished at you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
Tell me, ye who desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the free woman.
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondmaid, and one by the free woman.
23 However, the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
But he that was by the bond maid, was born after the flesh; and he that was by the free woman, was by the promise.
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to slavery, which is Hagar.
And these are allegorical of the two covenants; the one from mount Sinai, which bringeth forth for bondage, is Hagar.
25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in slavery with her children.
For Hagar is the mount Sinai in Arabia, and correspondeth with the present Jerusalem, and is serving in bondage, she and her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
But the Jerusalem above, is the free woman, who is the mother of us.
27 For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who do not bear. Break forth and shout, you that do not travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."
For it is written, Be joyful, thou barren, who bearest not: exult and shout, thou who hast not travailed: for more numerous are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman.
28 Now you, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
Now we, my brethren, like Isaac, are the children of the 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.
And as then, he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him who was born of the Spirit; so also is it now.
30 However what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not inherit with the son of the free woman."
But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondmaid, and her son; because the son of the bondmaid shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
So then, my brethren, we are not sons of the bond-woman, but sons of the free woman.
