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 so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,
2 But is, under guardians, and stewards, until the [day] fore-appointed of the father:
but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
3 So also, we, when we were infants, under the elementary principles of the world, were held in servitude;
So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles 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 the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
5 That, them who were under law, he might redeem, that, the sonship, we might duly receive; —
that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
6 And, because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, exclaiming, Abba! Oh Father!
And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7 So that, no longer, art thou a servant, but a son; and, if a son, an heir also, through God.
So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 But, at that time—not knowing God, ye were in servitude unto them who, by nature, are not Gods;
However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to 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 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?
10 Days, ye do narrowly observer, and months, and seasons, and years: —
You observe days, months, seasons, 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, that I might have wasted my labour for you.
12 Become ye as, I, because, I also, [was] as, ye, —brethren, I entreat you. Not at all, have ye wronged me.
I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
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 because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek 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 it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, 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 children, of whom I am again in travail 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.
but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me! ye who, under law, are wishing to be: The law, do ye not hear?
Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to 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 the servant, and one by the 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.
However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through 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 contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, 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 this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
26 But, the Jerusalem above, is free, —the which is our mother;
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
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 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.”
28 And, we, brethren, after the manner of Isaac, are children of a promise.
Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of 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 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.
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.”
31 Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a serving woman, but of the free: —
So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
