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 affirm, that as long as the heir is an infant, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be master of all;
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
but is under tutors and trustees until the time fixed by his father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
So we also, when we were infants, were in bondage under the first elementary 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 when the fulness of 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 who were under the 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!”
But because ye are sons, God hath 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.
Therefore thou art no more a slave, but a son, and if a son, an heir also 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 that time when ye knew not God, ye served those who 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 after having known God, or rather being known of God, how turn ye back again to those weak and beggarly elements, to which again a second time ye desire to be in bondage?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
I am afraid for you, lest haply I have bestowed on you labour in vain.
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
Be as I am, for I also am as ye are, brethren―this is my request to you: ye have not injured me in the least.
13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
Ye know that with infirmity of flesh I preached to you the gospel at the first.
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.
And my temptation, which was in my flesh, ye despised not, nor rejected with disgust; but as an angel of God ye received me, even as Christ Jesus himself.
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 blessedness, for I bear witness to you that, if it were possible, ye 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 therefore 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 affect zeal for you, not honourably; but they wish to exclude us, that you may be zealously attached to them.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
It is good indeed to be zealously affected in a good cause always, 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 of whom I travail in birth again, until 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 wish I could be with you now, and change my address; for I am in doubt about you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do not you listen to the law?
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not 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, the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free.
23 However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
Now the son of the bond-maid was born after the flesh, but that by the free woman was by 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 allegorical; for these are the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, gendering unto bondage, which is represented by Agar.
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 Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds with Jerusalem that now is, 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 free, which is the mother of us all.
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.”
For it is written, “Rejoice, thou barren who bearest not, cry out and shout for joy, thou that travailest not, for more are the children of her that was desolate, than of her which had an husband.”
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
So we, brethren, as Isaac, are the children of the 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 as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so is it 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 saith the scripture? “Cast out the bond-woman and her son for the son of the bond-maid shall in no wise 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, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
