< Galatians 4 >

1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,
Now, I say, as long as the heir is a minor, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all.
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
For he is under tutors and stewards, until the time before appointed 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, whilst we were minors, were in bondage 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 fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your 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 bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
So that you are no more a bondman, but a son, and if a son, then heir of God through Christ.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
But formerly indeed, when you knew not God, you served those, who by nature were 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 in bondage all over again?
But now, having acknowledged God, (or rather, being acknowledged by God, ) why do you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which again, a second time, you incline to be in bondage?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
You carefully observe days and moons, and seasons and years.
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
I am afraid of you, lest perhaps, I have labored in vain among you.
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
Brethren, I pray you, be as I am: for I am you are. You have injured me in nothing.
13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
You know, indeed, that in weakness of the flesh, I declared the gospel to you at first.
14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Yet that trial of mine, which was in my flesh, you did not despise; neither did you reject me, but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 What 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.
What, then, was your happiness! for I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes, and given them to me.
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Am I, then, become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
They love you ardently, not honorably. Yes, they wish to exclude us, that you may love them ardently.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
But it is honorable to be ardently in love with a good man at all times, and not merely when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
My little children, for whom I travail in birth again 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 could wish, indeed, to be present with you now, and to change my speech; for I am exceedingly in doubt concerning you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
Tell me, you who wish to be under the law, do you hear the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, 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 servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
But he, indeed, who was of the bondmaid, was begotten according to the flesh; but he who was of the free woman, was through the promise.
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
Which things are allegorized: for these women are two institutions; the one, indeed, from Mount Sinai, bringing forth children into bondage, which is Hagar,
25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
(for the name of Hagar denotes Mount Sinai, in Arabia, ) and she answers to the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
But the Jerusalem above, is the free woman, who is our mother.
27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren woman, who didst not bring forth! Break out and cry, thou who travailest not in birth; for more are the children of the deserted, than of her who had the husband."
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
We, therefore, brethren, like Isaac, are children by 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 even as then, he who was begotten according to the flesh, persecuted him who was begotten according to the Spirit: so also now.
30 However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
But what says the scripture? "Cast out the bondmaid and her son; for 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 servant, but of the free woman.
Well, then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondmaid, but of the free woman.

< Galatians 4 >