< Galatians 4 >
1 My point is this – as long as the heir is under age, there is no difference between him and a slave, though he is master of the whole estate.
ⲁ̅ϯϫⲱ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲉⲫⲟⲥⲟⲛ ⳿ⲭⲣⲟⲛⲟⲛ ⳿ⲉⲡⲓ⳿ⲕⲗⲏ ⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩϫⲓ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲁⲗⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⳿ϩⲗⲓ ⳿ⲛϣⲓⲃϯ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲟⲩⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲙ⳪ ⳿ⲉⲉⲛⲭⲁⲓ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ.
2 He is subject to the control of guardians and stewards, during the period for which his father has power to appoint them.
ⲃ̅ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲁϥⲭⲏ ϧⲁ ϩⲁⲛⲉⲡⲓ⳿ⲧⲣⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ϩⲁⲛⲟⲓⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϣⲁ ϯⲛⲉⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲓⲱⲧ.
3 And so is it with us; when we were under age, as it were, we were slaves to the puerile teaching of this world;
ⲅ̅ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲱⲛ ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲉⲛⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲁⲗⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲛⲭⲏ ϧⲁ ⲛⲓ⳿ⲥⲧⲟⲓⲭⲓⲟⲛ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲛⲟⲓ ⳿ⲙⲃⲱⲕ ⲛⲱⲟⲩ.
4 but, when the full time came, God sent his Son – born a woman’s child, born subject to Law –
ⲇ̅ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲁϥ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⳿ⲫⲙⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲏⲟⲩ ⲁ ⲫϯ ⲟⲩⲱⲣⲡ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲓ ⳿ⲉⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲓ ϧⲁ ⲟⲩ⳿ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ ⳿ⲉⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲓ ϧⲁ ⲡⲓⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ.
5 to ransom those who were subject to Law, so that we might take our position as sons.
ⲉ̅ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉϥϣⲏⲡ ⲛⲏⲉⲧϧⲁ ⲡⲓⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲛϭⲓ ⳿ⲛϯⲙⲉⲧϣⲏⲣⲓ.
6 And it is because you are sons that God sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, with the cry – “Abba, our Father.”
ⲋ̅ⲟⲧⲓ ⲇⲉ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϩⲁⲛϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲁ ⲫϯ ⲧⲁⲟⲩⲟ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲡ͞ⲛⲁ̅ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲓ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϧⲣⲏⲓ ⳿ⲉⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛϩⲏ ⲧ ⲉϥⲱϣ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲁⲃⲃⲁ ⳿ⲫⲓⲱⲧ.
7 You, therefore, are no longer a slave, but a son; and, if a son, then an heir also, by God’s appointment.
ⲍ̅ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲃⲱⲕ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲓⲥϫⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲓⲉ ⲟⲩ⳿ⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲟⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲫϯ.
8 Yet formerly, in your ignorance of God, you became slaves to “gods” which were no gods.
ⲏ̅ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲏⲟⲩ ⲙⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲧⲉ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⳿ⲙⲫϯ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲉⲣⲃⲱⲕ ⳿ⲛⲛⲏ ⲫⲩⲥⲓ ⲉⲧⲉ ϩⲁⲛⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲉ.
9 But now that you have found God – or, rather, have been found by him – how is it that you are turning back to that poor and feeble puerile teaching, to which yet once again you are wanting to become slaves?
ⲑ̅ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲟⲩⲉⲛ ⲫϯ ⲙⲁⲗⲗⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲁ ⲫϯ ⲥⲟⲩⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲡⲱⲥ ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲕⲱϯ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⲟⲛ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϧⲣⲏⲓ ⳿ⲉⲛⲓϫⲱⲃ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛϩⲏ ⲕⲓ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲥⲧⲟⲓⲭⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱϣ ⳿ⲉⲉⲣⲃⲱⲕ ⲛⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛⲕⲉⲥⲟⲡ.
10 You are scrupulous in keeping days and months and seasons and years!
ⲓ̅⳿ⲉⲁⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϯ⳿ϩⲑⲏⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉϩⲁⲛ⳿ⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ϩⲁⲛⲁⲃⲏⲧ ⲛⲉⲙ ϩⲁⲛⲥⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ϩⲁⲛⲣⲟⲙⲡⲓ.
11 You make me fear that the labour which I have spent on you may have been wasted.
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ϯⲉⲣϩⲟϯ ϧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϩⲏ ⲙⲏⲡⲱⲥ ⲉⲧⲁⲓ ϭⲓϧⲓⲥⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϩⲓⲕⲏ.
12 I entreat you, friends, to become like me, as I became like you. You have never done me any wrong.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ϣⲱⲡⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁⲣⲏϯ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϩⲱ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲣⲏϯ ⲛⲁ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ϯϯϩⲟ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛϭ ⲓⲧ ⳿ⲛϫⲟⲛⲥ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲗⲓ.
13 You remember that it was owing to bodily infirmity that on the first occasion I told you the good news.
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ⲇⲉ ϫⲉ ⲉⲑⲃⲉ ⲟⲩϣⲱⲛⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲁⲓϩⲓϣⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ ⲛⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ.
14 And as for what must have tried you in my condition, it did not inspire you with scorn or disgust, but you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God – or Christ Jesus himself!
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲡⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲭⲏ ϧⲉⲛ ⲧⲁⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛϣⲟϣϥ ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛϩⲓⲑⲁϥ ⳿ⲛⲥⲱϥ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛϣⲟⲡϥ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲫϯ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲙⲠⲭ̅ⲥ̅ Ⲓⲏ̅ⲥ̅.
15 What has become then, of your blessings? For I can bear witness that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me!
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲁϥⲑⲱⲛ ⲟⲩⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲥⲙⲟⲥ ϯⲉⲣ ⲙⲉⲑⲣⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ⳿ϣϫⲟⲙ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲫⲉⲣⲕ ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛⲃⲁⲗ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲛⲁⲧⲏⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲏⲓ ⲡⲉ.
16 Am I to think, then, that I have become your enemy by telling you the truth?
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ⲁⲓⲉⲣϫⲁϫⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϫⲉ ϯ ⲧⲁⲙⲟ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓ.
17 Certain people are seeking your favour, but with no honourable object. No, indeed, they want to isolate you, so that you will have to seek their favour.
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲥⲉⲭⲟϩ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲛⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲩⲟⲩⲱϣ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϣⲑⲁⲙ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲭⲟϩ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲟⲩ.
18 It is always honourable to have your favour sought in an honourable cause, and not only when I am with you, my dear children –
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲛⲁⲛⲉⲥ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲉⲭⲟϩ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲡⲉⲑⲛⲁⲛⲉϥ ⳿ⲛⲥⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲓⲭⲏ ϧⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ ⲁⲛ.
19 you for whom I am again enduring a mother’s pains, until a likeness to Christ will have been formed in you.
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲛⲁϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲛⲁⲓ ⳿ⲉϯ ϯⲛⲁⲕϩⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛⲕⲉⲥⲟⲡ ϣⲁⲧⲉ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ϭⲓⲙⲟⲣⲫⲏ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ.
20 But I could wish to be with you now and speak in a different tone, for I am perplexed about you.
ⲕ̅ⲛⲁⲓⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲓ ϩⲁⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲉϣⲓⲃϯ ⳿ⲛⲧⲁ⳿ⲥⲙⲏ ϫⲉ ϯϣⲟⲗϩ ⳿ⲛϩⲏⲧ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ.
21 Tell me, you who want to be still subject to Law – Why don’t you listen to the Law?
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅⳿ⲁϫⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲏⲓ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱϣ ⳿ⲉϣⲱⲡⲓ ϧⲁ ⲡⲓⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ.
22 Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one the child of the slave-woman and the other the child of the free woman.
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅⳿ⲥ⳿ⲥϧⲏⲟⲩⲧ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲉ ⲁⲃⲣⲁⲁⲙ ⲁϥ⳿ϫⲫⲉ ϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲃ̅ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ϯⲃⲱⲕⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ϯⲣⲉⲙϩⲏ.
23 But the child of the slave-woman was born in the course of nature, while the child of the free woman was born in fulfilment of a promise.
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲓ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲉⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ϯⲃⲱⲕⲓ ⲉⲧⲁⲩⲙⲁⲥϥ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲡⲓ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲇⲉ ϧⲉⲛ ϯⲣⲉⲙϩⲏ ⲟⲩ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩ⳿ⲉⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲁ ⲡⲉ.
24 This story may be taken as an allegory. The women stand for two covenants. One covenant, given from Mount Sinai, produces a race of slaves and is represented by Hagar.
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⳿ⲉϣⲁⲩⲉⲣⲁⲗⲗⲏⲅⲟⲣⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲟⲩ ⲇⲓ⳿ⲁⲑⲏⲕⲏ ⲃ̅ϯ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⲙⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡⲧⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛⲥⲓⲛⲁ ⲉⲥⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⲉⲩⲙⲉⲧⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲁⲅⲁⲣ ⲧⲉ.
25 Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents the Jerusalem of today, for she and her children are in slavery.
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲁⲅⲁⲣ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲡⲧⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛⲥⲓⲛⲁ ⲉϥⲭⲏ ϧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲧⲁⲣⲁⲃⲓⲁ ⲁϥⲟⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϣⲫⲏⲣ ⳿ⲛϯⲙⲁϯ ⲛⲉⲙ ⳿ⲓⲗ̅ⲏ̅ⲙ̅ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⳿ⲥⲟⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ⲙⲃⲱⲕⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲉⲥϣⲏⲣⲓ.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she it is who is our mother.
ⲕ̅ⲋ̅⳿ⲓⲗ̅ⲏ̅ⲙ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲡϣⲱⲓ ⲟⲩⲣⲉⲙϩⲏ ⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲛⲙⲁⲩ ⲧⲉ.
27 For scripture says – “Rejoice, you barren one, who have never given birth, break into shouts, you who are never in labour, for many are the children of her who is desolate – yes, more than of her who has a husband.”
ⲕ̅ⲍ̅⳿ⲥ⳿ⲥϧⲏⲟⲩⲧ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϥ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟ ϯ ⲁϭⲣⲏⲛ ⲑⲏ ⲉⲧⲉ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁⲥⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⲫⲱϫⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲱϣ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲑⲏ ⲉⲧⲉ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁⲥϯⲛⲁⲕϩⲓ ϫⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲉ ⲛⲓϣⲏ ⲣⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯϣⲁϥⲏ ⲙⲁⲗⲗⲟⲛ ⳿ⲉϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲑⲏ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛⲧⲁⲥ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓϩⲁⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ.
28 As for ourselves, friends, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfilment of a promise.
ⲕ̅ⲏ̅⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲉⲛ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⳿ Ⲓⲥⲁⲁⲕ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲁⲛϣⲏⲣⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲉⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲁ.
29 Yet at that time the child born in the course of nature persecuted the child born by the power of the Spirit; and it is the same now.
ⲕ̅ⲑ̅ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲏⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲧⲏ ⲛⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲓⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲥⲁⲣⲝ ϭⲟϫⲓ ⳿ⲛⲥⲁ ⲡⲓⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲓⲡ͞ⲛⲁ̅ ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ⲟⲛ ϯⲛⲟⲩ.
30 But what does the passage of scripture say? “Send away the slave-woman and her son; for the slave’s son will not be coheir with the son of the free woman.”
ⲗ̅ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ϯ⳿ⲅⲣⲁⲫⲏ ϫⲱ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϩⲓⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲁⲓⲃⲱⲕⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲉⲥϣⲏ ⲣⲓ ⳿ⲛⲛⲉ ⳿ⲡϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ⲛϯⲃⲱⲕⲓ ⲉⲣ⳿ⲕⲗⲏ ⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲓⲛ ⲛⲉⲙ ⳿ⲡϣⲏⲣⲓ ⳿ⲛϯⲣⲉⲙϩⲉ.
31 And so, friends, we are not children of a slave, but of her who is free.
ⲗ̅ⲁ̅⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲉⲛ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲛⲉⲛϣⲏⲣⲓ ⳿ⲛϯⲃⲱⲕⲓ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϯⲣⲉⲙϩⲉ