Galatians 4
1 Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all;
But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;
2 but he is under guardians and stewards until the period fixed by the father.
but is under guardians and stewards until the term appointed of the father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;
So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
4 but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, come of woman, come under law,
but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship.
that he might redeem them which were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 So thou art no longer bondman, but son; but if son, heir also through God.
So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
8 But then indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods;
Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them which by nature are no gods:
9 but now, knowing God, but rather being known by God, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly principles to which ye desire to be again anew in bondage?
but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known of God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?
10 Ye observe days and months and times and years.
Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.
I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labour upon you in vain.
12 Be as I [am], for I also [am] as ye, brethren, I beseech you: ye have not at all wronged me.
I beseech you, brethren, be as I [am], for I [am] as ye [are]. Ye did me no wrong:
13 But ye know that in weakness of the flesh I announced the glad tidings to you at the first;
but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:
14 and my temptation, which [was] in my flesh, ye did not slight nor reject with contempt; but ye received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus.
15 What then [was] your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye would have given [them] to me.
Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
16 So I have become your enemy in speaking the truth to you?
So then am I become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They are not rightly zealous after you, but desire to shut you out [from us], that ye may be zealous after them.
They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.
18 But [it is] right to be zealous at all times in what is right, and not only when I am present with you —
But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
19 my children, of whom I again travail in birth until Christ shall have been formed in you:
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you,
20 and I should wish to be present with you now, and change my voice, for I am perplexed as to you.
yea, I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not 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 of the maid servant, and one of the free woman.
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.
23 But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through the promise.
Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise.
24 Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar.
Which things contain an allegory: for these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
25 For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which [is] now, for she is in bondage with her children;
Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break out and cry, thou that travailest not; because the children of the desolate are more numerous than [those] of her that has a husband.
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her which hath the husband.
28 But ye, brethren, after the pattern of Isaac, are children of promise.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him [that was born] according to 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 it is now.
30 But what says the scripture? Cast out the maid servant and her son; for the son of the maid servant shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.
Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not maid servant's children, but [children] of the free woman.
Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.
