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,
我說那承受產業的，雖然是全業的主人，但為孩童的時候卻與奴僕毫無分別，
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
乃在師傅和管家的手下，直等他父親預定的時候來到。
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
我們為孩童的時候，受管於世俗小學之下，也是如此。
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
及至時候滿足，上帝就差遣他的兒子，為女子所生，且生在律法以下，
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
要把律法以下的人贖出來，叫我們得着兒子的名分。
6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
你們既為兒子，上帝就差他兒子的靈進入你們的心，呼叫：「阿爸！父！」
7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Messiah.
可見，從此以後，你不是奴僕，乃是兒子了；既是兒子，就靠着上帝為後嗣。
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
但從前你們不認識上帝的時候，是給那些本來不是神的作奴僕；
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?
現在你們既然認識上帝，更可說是被上帝所認識的，怎麼還要歸回那懦弱無用的小學，情願再給他作奴僕呢？
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
你們謹守日子、月份、節期、年份，
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labour for you.
我為你們害怕，惟恐我在你們身上是枉費了工夫。
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
弟兄們，我勸你們要像我一樣，因為我也像你們一樣。你們一點沒有虧負我。
13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
你們知道我頭一次傳福音給你們，是因為身體有疾病。
14 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 Messiah Yeshua.
你們為我身體的緣故受試煉，沒有輕看我，也沒有厭棄我，反倒接待我，如同上帝的使者，如同基督耶穌。
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.
你們當日所誇的福氣在哪裏呢？那時你們若能行，就是把自己的眼睛剜出來給我，也都情願。這是我可以給你們作見證的。
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
如今我將真理告訴你們，就成了你們的仇敵嗎？
17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
那些人熱心待你們，卻不是好意，是要離間你們，叫你們熱心待他們。
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
在善事上，常用熱心待人原是好的，卻不單我與你們同在的時候才這樣。
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Messiah is formed in you—
我小子啊，我為你們再受生產之苦，直等到基督成形在你們心裏。
20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
我巴不得現今在你們那裏，改換口氣，因我為你們心裏作難。
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
你們這願意在律法以下的人，請告訴我，你們豈沒有聽見律法嗎？
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
因為律法上記着，亞伯拉罕有兩個兒子，一個是使女生的，一個是自主之婦人生的。
23 However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
然而，那使女所生的是按着血氣生的；那自主之婦人所生的是憑着應許生的。
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
這都是比方：那兩個婦人就是兩約。一約是出於西奈山，生子為奴，乃是夏甲。
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.
這夏甲二字是指着阿拉伯的西奈山，與現在的耶路撒冷同類，因耶路撒冷和她的兒女都是為奴的。
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我們的母。
27 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.”
因為經上記着： 不懷孕、不生養的，你要歡樂； 未曾經過產難的，你要高聲歡呼； 因為沒有丈夫的，比有丈夫的兒女更多。
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
弟兄們，我們是憑着應許作兒女，如同以撒一樣。
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.
當時，那按着血氣生的逼迫了那按着聖靈生的，現在也是這樣。
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.”
然而經上是怎麼說的呢？是說：「把使女和她兒子趕出去！因為使女的兒子不可與自主婦人的兒子一同承受產業。」
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
弟兄們，這樣看來，我們不是使女的兒女，乃是自主婦人的兒女了。
