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,
But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all;
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
But is under keepers and managers till the time fixed by the father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
So we, when we were young, were kept under the first rules 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 time had come, God sent out his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of 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 out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, saying, Abba, Father.
7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Messiah.
So that you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then the heritage of God is yours.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
But at that time, having no knowledge of God, you were servants to those who by right are no 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 have knowledge of God, or more truly, God has knowledge of you, how is it that you go back again to the poor and feeble first things, desiring to be servants to them again?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
You keep days, and months, and fixed times, and years.
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labour for you.
I am in fear of you, that I may have been working for you to no purpose.
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
My desire for you, brothers, is that you may be as I am, because I am as you are. You have done 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 have knowledge that with a feeble body I was preaching the good news to you the first time;
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.
And you did not have a poor opinion of me because of the trouble in my flesh, or put shame on it; but you took me to your hearts as an angel of God, even 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.
Where then is that happy condition of yours? because I give you witness, that, if possible, you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me.
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
So then am I no longer your friend, because I give you true words?
17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
Their interest in you is not good; but their desire is that you may be shut out, so that you may go after them.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
But it is good to have an interest in a good cause at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Messiah is formed in you—
My children, of whom I am again in birth-pains till 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.
Truly my desire is to be present with you now, using a changed voice; for I am troubled about you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
Say, you whose desire it is to be under the law, do you not give ear to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
Because it is in the Writings, that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-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.
Now the son by the servant-woman has his birth after the flesh; but the son by the free woman has his birth through the undertaking of God.
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
Which things have a secret sense; because these women are the two agreements; one from the mountain of Sinai, giving birth to servants, which 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.
Now this Hagar is the mountain Sinai in Arabia, and is the image of the Jerusalem which now is: which is a servant with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
But the Jerusalem on high is free, which is our mother.
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.”
For it is in the Writings, You who have never given birth, be glad; give cries of joy, you who have had no birth-pains; for the children of her who has been given up by her husband are more than those of the woman who has a husband.
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of the undertaking of God.
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 as in those days he who had birth after the flesh was cruel to him who had birth after the Spirit, even so it is now.
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.”
What then do the Writings say? Send away the servant-woman and her son; for the son of the servant-woman will not have a part in the heritage 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 servant-woman, but of the free woman.
