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 that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the master of all.
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
But he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by his father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
In the same way also, when we were children, we were enslaved to 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 time came, God sent 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.
to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive 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 has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out, “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 yoʋ are no longer a slave, but a son. And if yoʋ are a son, yoʋ are 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.
At that time, however, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings 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 have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you wish to be enslaved to them once more?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
You observe days, months, seasons, and years!
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
I am afraid for you, lest somehow I have labored for 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,
I plead with you, brothers: Become as I am, because I also have become as you are. 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.
But you know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I preached the gospel to you the first time.
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 you did not despise or reject me even though my physical condition was a trial for me. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, 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 has become of that sense of blessing you had? For I testify to you that, if 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.
Those false teachers are not zealous for you in a good way, but rather they wish to shut you out so that you will be zealous for 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 for a good purpose, and to be so at all times and not just when I am 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 suffering labor pains 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.
how I wish that I could be with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you!
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do not you listen to the law?
Tell me, you who wish to be under the law, do you not listen to 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 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.
But the son of the slave woman was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born 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.
This can be explained allegorically, for these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this 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 Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; she is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
But the Jerusalem that is above is the free woman; she 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, O barren woman, who has never given birth; break forth and shout, yoʋ who have never been in labor! For many are the children of the desolate woman, more than those of the woman who has a husband.”
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are 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 just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
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 does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman 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.
So, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
