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,
To proceed, as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, 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 stewards until 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.
Similarly, when we were children we were in slavery under the basic principles 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 at just the right time God sent out His Son, born of a woman, born under law,
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
so that He might redeem those under law, that we might receive the adoption as 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 sent out the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, calling, “Abba, Father”.
7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, also an 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 at one time indeed, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those that 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 in bondage all over again?
But now that you know God—better, are known by God—how can you turn back to those weak, yes decidedly inferior, basic principles, to which you wish to be enslaved all over again?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
You are observing days and months and seasons and years.
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
I fear for you, lest somehow I have labored over 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,
Brothers, I plead with you, become as I am, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.
13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
Rather, you know that I preached the Gospel to you the first time in spite of a physical infirmity.
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.
Also, you did not despise or recoil at my physical trial, but you 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.
So what about your blessedness? Because I can testify that if it were possible you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
They zealously court you—not for good but intending to isolate you, so that you may seek them.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
Now it is good to be zealous in a good thing at any time, and not only 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 am again in travail until Christ is 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 wish I could be present with you now and change my tone; because I am perplexed about you!
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not heed that 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 slave woman 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.
However, the one by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, while the one by 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.
I will now allegorize them—these are two covenants: one is from Mount Sinai, bearing children into slavery, 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 this ‘Hagar’ is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present day Jerusalem, and is in slavery with her children);
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
while the ‘Jerusalem’ that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
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, barren one, who does not give birth; break forth and shout, you who have no labor pains; because the abandoned woman has many more children than she who has the husband.”
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
Now we, brothers, 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, it is the same now as it was then: the one born according to flesh persecutes the one born according to Spirit.
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.”
However, what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, because the son of the slave woman absolutely must 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.
So then, brothers, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.
