Galatians 4
1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;
Now I say that so long as an heir is a child, he in no respect differs from a slave, although he is the owner of everything,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the term appointed of the father.
but he is under the control of guardians and trustees until the time his father has appointed.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
So we also, when spiritually we were children, were subject to the world's rudimentary notions, and were enslaved.
4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
But, when the time was fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born subject to Law,
5 that he might redeem them which were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
in order to purchase the freedom of all who were subject to Law, so that we might receive recognition as sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of His Son to enter your hearts and cry "Abba! our Father!"
7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir also through God's own act.
8 Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them which by nature are no gods:
But at one time, you Gentiles, having no knowledge of God, were slaves to gods which in reality do not exist.
9 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known of God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?
Now, however, having come to know God--or rather to be known by Him--how is it you are again turning back to weak and worthless rudimentary notions to which you are once more willing to be enslaved?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
You scrupulously observe days and months, special seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labour upon you in vain.
I am alarmed about you, and am afraid that I have perhaps bestowed labour upon you to no purpose.
12 I beseech you, brethren, be as I [am], for I [am] as ye [are]. Ye did me no wrong:
Brethren, become as I am, I beseech you; for I have also become like you. In no respect did you behave badly to me.
13 but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:
And you know that in those early days it was on account of bodily infirmity that I proclaimed the Good News to you,
14 and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus.
and yet the bodily infirmity which was such a trial to you, you did not regard with contempt or loathing, but you received me as if I had been an angel of God or Christ Jesus Himself!
15 Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
I ask you, then, what has become of your self-congratulations? For I bear you witness that had it been possible you would have torn out your own eyes and have given them to me.
16 So then am I become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Can it be that I have become your enemy through speaking the truth to you?
17 They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.
These men pay court to you, but not with honourable motives. They want to exclude you, so that you may pay court to them.
18 But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
It is always an honourable thing to be courted in an honourable cause; always, and not only when I am with you, my children--
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you,
you for whom I am again, as it were, undergoing the pains of childbirth, until Christ is fully formed within you.
20 yea, I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I am perplexed about you.
Would that I were with you and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Tell me--you who want to continue to be subject to Law--will you not listen to the Law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-girl and one by the free woman.
23 Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise.
But we see that the child of the slave-girl was born in the common course of nature; but the child of the free woman in fulfilment of the promise.
24 Which things contain an allegory: for these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
All this is allegorical; for the women represent two Covenants. One has its origin on Mount Sinai, and bears children destined for slavery.
25 Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
This is Hagar; for the name Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage together with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
But the Jerusalem which is above is free, and she is our mother.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her which hath the husband.
For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren woman that bearest not, break forth into a joyful cry, thou that dost not travail with child. For the desolate woman has many children--more indeed than she who has the husband."
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
But you, brethren, like Isaac, are children born in fulfilment of a promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Yet just as, at that time, the child born in the common course of nature persecuted the one whose birth was due to the power of the Spirit, so it is now.
30 Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
But what says the Scripture? "Send away the slave-girl and her son, for never shall the slave-girl's son share the inheritance with the son of the free woman."
31 Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.
Therefore, brethren, since we are not the children of a slave-girl, but of the free woman--
