Galatians 4
1 But I say: —for as long a time as, the heir, is an infant, he differeth, nothing, from a servant, though, lord of all,
But I say that, during the time an heir is a child, he is no different from a servant, even though he is the owner of everything.
2 But is, under guardians, and stewards, until the [day] fore-appointed of the father:
For he is under tutors and caretakers, until the time which was predetermined by the father.
3 So also, we, when we were infants, under the elementary principles of the world, were held in servitude;
So also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences of the world.
4 But, when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, who came to be of a woman, who came to be under law, —
But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law,
5 That, them who were under law, he might redeem, that, the sonship, we might duly receive; —
so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And, because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, exclaiming, Abba! Oh Father!
Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: “Abba, Father.”
7 So that, no longer, art thou a servant, but a son; and, if a son, an heir also, through God.
And so now he is not a servant, but a son. But if he is a son, then he is also an heir, through God.
8 But, at that time—not knowing God, ye were in servitude unto them who, by nature, are not Gods;
But then, certainly, while ignorant of God, you served those who, by nature, are not gods.
9 Whereas, now, having acknowledged God, —or rather, having been acknowledged by God, how turn ye back again unto the weak and beggarly elementary principles, unto which, over again, ye are wishing, to come into servitude?
But now, since you have known God, or rather, since you have been known by God: how can you turn away again, to weak and destitute influences, which you desire to serve anew?
10 Days, ye do narrowly observer, and months, and seasons, and years: —
You serve the days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you—lest by any means, in vain, I should have toiled for you!
I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I may have labored in vain among you.
12 Become ye as, I, because, I also, [was] as, ye, —brethren, I entreat you. Not at all, have ye wronged me.
Brothers, I beg you. Be as I am. For I, too, am like you. You have not injured me at all.
13 Howbeit ye know that, by reason of a weakness of the flesh, I myself announced the glad-message unto you, formerly;
But you know that, in the weakness of the flesh, I have preached the Gospel to you for a long time, and that your trials are in my flesh.
14 And, your trial, in my flesh, ye despised not, neither spat ye [in disgust], but, as a messenger of God, ye welcomed me—as Christ Jesus.
You did not despise or reject me. But instead, you accepted me like an Angel of God, even like Christ Jesus.
15 Where, then, is the happiness ye accounted yours? For I bear you witness—that, if possible, your eyes, ye would have dug out, and given unto me.
Therefore, where is your happiness? For I offer to you testimony that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me.
16 So then, your enemy, have I become, by dealing truthfully with you?
So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They shew a zeal for you, not honourably, but wish, to shut you out, in order that ye may be zealous for, them.
They are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them.
18 Howbeit it is, honourable, to show zeal in what is honourable at all times, and not only when I am present with you; —
But be imitators of what is good, always in a good way, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My dear children! for whom I, again, am in birth-pains, until Christ be formed within you; —
My little sons, I am giving birth to you again, until Christ is formed in you.
20 I could wish, however, to be present with you, even now, and to change my voice, —because I am perplexed regarding you.
And I would willingly be present with you, even now. But I would alter my voice: for I am ashamed of you.
21 Tell me! ye who, under law, are wishing to be: The law, do ye not hear?
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?
22 For it is written, that, Abraham, had two sons—one by the bondmaid, and one by the free woman;
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a servant woman, and one by a free woman.
23 But, he that was of the bondmaid, after the flesh, had been born, whereas, he that was of the free woman, through means of a promise.
And he who was of the servant was born according to the flesh. But he who was of the free woman was born by the promise.
24 Which things, indeed, may bear another meaning; for, the same, are two covenants, —one, indeed, from Mount Sinai, into bondage, bringing forth, the which is Hagar, —
These things are said through an allegory. For these represent the two testaments. Certainly the one, on Mount Sinai, gives birth unto servitude, which is Hagar.
25 And, the Hagar, is Mount Sinai, in Arabia, —she answereth, however, unto the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage with her children;
For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is related to the Jerusalem of the present time, and it serves with her sons.
26 But, the Jerusalem above, is free, —the which is our mother;
But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same is our mother.
27 For it is written—Be gladdened, O barren one! that wast not giving birth, break forth and shout, thou that wast not in birth-pains, —because, more, are the children of the deserted one, than of her that had the husband.
For it was written: “Rejoice, O barren one, though you do not conceive. Burst forth and cry out, though you do not give birth. For many are the children of the desolate, even more than of her who has a husband.”
28 And, we, brethren, after the manner of Isaac, are children of a promise.
Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise.
29 But, just as, then, he that after the manner of the flesh had been born, did persecute him who [had been born] after the manner of the Spirit, thus, also now.
But just as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
30 But, what saith the scripture? Cast out the serving woman and her son; for in nowise shall the son of the serving woman inherit with the son of the free.
And what does Scripture say? “Cast out the woman servant and her son. For the son of a servant women shall not be an heir with the son of a free woman.”
31 Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a serving woman, but of the free: —
And so, brothers, we are not the sons of the servant woman, but rather of the free woman. And this is the freedom with which Christ has set us free.
