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,
再說：承繼人幾時還是孩童，雖然他是一切家業的主人，卻與奴隸沒有分別，
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
仍屬於監護人和代理人的權下，直到父親預定的期限。
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
同樣，當我們以前還作孩童的時候，我們是隸屬今世的蒙學權下；
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
但時期一滿，天主就派遣了自己的兒子來，生於女人，生於法律之下，
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
為把在法律之下的人贖出來，使我們獲得義子的地位。
6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
為證實你們確實的天主的子女，天主派遣了自己兒子的聖神，到我們內心喊說：「阿爸，父啊! 」
7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
所以你已不再是奴隸，而是兒子了；如果是兒子，賴天主的恩寵，也成了承繼人。
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
當你們還不認識天主的時候，服事了一些本來不是神的神；
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?
但如今你們認識了天主，更好說為天主所認識；那麼，你們怎麼又再回到那無能無用的蒙學裏去，情願再作他們的奴隸呢﹖
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
你們竟又謹守某日、某月、某時、某年!
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
我真為你們擔心，怕我白白地為你們辛苦了。
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
弟兄們! 我懇求你們要像我一樣，因為我曾一度也像你們一樣。你們一點也沒有虧負過我。
13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
你們知道：當我初次給你們宣講福音時，正當我身患重病，
14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you did not despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
雖然我的病勢為你們是個試探，你們卻沒有輕看我，也沒有厭棄我，反接待我有如一位天主的天使，有如基督耶穌。
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.
那麼，你們當日所慶幸的在那裡呢﹖我敢為你們作證：如若可能，你們那時也會把你們的眼睛挖出來給我。
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
那麼，只因我給你們說實話，就成了你們的仇人嗎﹖
17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
那些人對你們表示關心，並不懷好好意； 他們只是願意使你們與我隔絕，好叫你們也關心他們。
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
受人關心固然是好的，但應懷好意，且該常常如此，並不單是我在你們中間的時候。
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
我的孩子們! 我願為你們再受產痛，直到基督在你們內形成為止。
20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
恨不得我現今就在你們跟前，改變我的聲調，因為我對你們實在放心不下。
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do not you listen to the law?
你們願意屬於法律的，請告訴我：你們沒有聽見法律說什麼嗎﹖
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
法律曾記載說：亞巴郎有兩個兒子：一個生於婢女，一個生於自由的婦人。
23 However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
那生於婢女的，是按常例而生的；但那生於自由婦人的，卻是因恩許而生的。
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
這都含有寓意：那兩個婦人是代表兩個盟約：一是出於西乃山，生子為奴，那即是哈加爾──
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.
西乃山是在阿剌伯──這哈加爾相當於現在的耶路撒冷，因為耶路撒冷與她的子女同為奴隸。
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
然而那屬於天上的耶路撒冷卻是自由的，她就是我們的母親：
27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who do not bear. Break out and shout, you who do not travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
誠如經上記載說：『不生育的石女，喜樂罷! 未經產痛的女人，歡呼高唱罷! 因為被棄者的子女比有夫者的子女還多。』
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
弟兄們! 你們像依撒格一樣，是恩許的子女。
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.
但是，先前那按常例而生的怎樣迫害了那按神恩而生的，如今還是這樣。
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.”
然而經上說了什麼﹖『你將婢女和她的兒子趕走，因為婢女的兒子不能與自由婦人的兒子，一同承受家業。』
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
所以，弟兄們，我們不是婢女的子女，而是自由婦人的子女。
