1 B ut I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;

Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all;

2 b ut is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.

but he is under guardians and stewards until the period fixed by the father.

3 S o we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;

4 b ut when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, come of woman, come under law,

5 t hat he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship.

6 A nd because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 S o that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

So thou art no longer bondman, but son; but if son, heir also through God.

8 H owbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:

But then indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods;

9 b ut now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?

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?

10 Y e observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.

Ye observe days and months and times and years.

11 I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.

I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.

12 I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong:

Be as I, for I also as ye, brethren, I beseech you: ye have not at all wronged me.

13 b ut ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:

But ye know that in weakness of the flesh I announced the glad tidings to you at the first;

14 a nd 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.

and my temptation, which in my flesh, ye did not slight nor reject with contempt; but ye received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

15 W here 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.

What then your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye would have given to me.

16 S o then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?

So I have become your enemy in speaking the truth to you?

17 T hey zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.

They are not rightly zealous after you, but desire to shut you out, that ye may be zealous after them.

18 B ut it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

But right to be zealous at all times in what is right, and not only when I am present with you—

19 M y little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you--

my children, of whom I again travail in birth until Christ shall have been formed in you:

20 b ut I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.

and I should wish to be present with you now, and change my voice, for I am perplexed as to you.

21 T ell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

Tell me, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not listen to the law?

22 F or it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.

For it is written that Abraham had two sons; one of the maid servant, and one of the free woman.

23 H owbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.

But he of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he of the free woman through the promise.

24 W hich things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.

Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar.

25 N ow this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.

For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now, for she is in bondage with her children;

26 B ut the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.

but the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.

27 F or 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 that hath the husband.

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 of her that has a husband.

28 N ow we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

But ye, brethren, after the pattern of Isaac, are children of promise.

29 B ut as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now.

But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him according to Spirit, so also now.

30 H owbeit 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.

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.

31 W herefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.

So then, brethren, we are not maid servant's children, but of the free woman.