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, as long as he is a minor, differs in no respect from a servant, though he is owner of all;
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
but is under guardians and managers till the time appointed by the father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
So, also, we, when we were minors, were in bondage under the rudiments 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 fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born 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 buy off those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption.
6 And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father."
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God.
So, then, you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, an heir also of God, through Christ.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
But, then, because you knew not God, you were enslaved to those who, by 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?
now, however, after having known God, rather indeed having been known by God, how is it that you are turning back to the weak and beggarly rudiments, to which you desire again to be in bondage, as at first?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
You observe days and months and times and years.
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
fear for you, lest I have bestowed labor upon 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,
Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; because I was as you are. You have injured me in nothing.
13 but you know that in physical weakness I preached the Good News to you the first time;
You know that through weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the first:
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 my trial, which was in my flesh, you did not despise or loathe; but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
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.
How great, then, was your blessedness! For I testify for you, that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes, and have given them to me.
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Have I then become your enemy, because I tell 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 ardently attached to you, but not honorably; indeed, they desire to exclude us, that you may be ardently attached to them.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
It is honorable to be ardently attached always, in what is honorable, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
My little children, for whom I again suffer the pains of gestation, till Christ 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.
I desire to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am in doubt concerning you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not understand 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 a bondmaid, and one by a 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 the one by the bondmaid was born according to the flesh; the other, by the free woman, was by promise.
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to slavery, which is Hagar.
These things are allegorized: for these women are the two covenants; the one from the Mount Sinai that brings forth for bondage, which 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 represents Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
But Jerusalem which is above is free; and she is the mother of us all.
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: Rejoice you barren, that do not bear: break forth and cry aloud, you that travail not: for many more are the children of the deserted, than of her that had the husband of the deserted.
28 Now you, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
We, indeed, brethren, like Isaac, are children of 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.
But as then, he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was born according to the Spirit, so even 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 says the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman.
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
Therefore, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free-woman.
