1 N ow I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,

2 b ut he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

3 S o also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

4 B ut when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5 s o that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6 B ecause you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “ Abba! Father!”

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

7 T herefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Fears for the Church

8 H owever at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.

9 B ut now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

10 Y ou observe days and months and seasons and years.

You observe days and months and seasons and years.

11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;

Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.

13 b ut you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;

You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.

14 a nd that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15 W here then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.

16 S o have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

17 T hey eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.

They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.

18 B ut it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.

But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.

19 M y children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—

My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is 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. Bond and Free

I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you. Two Covenants

21 T ell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

22 F or it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.

For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.

23 B ut the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.

But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

24 T his is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.

which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

25 N ow this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—

26 B ut the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27 F or it is written, “ Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For more numerous are the children of the desolate Than of the one who has a husband.”

For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.”

28 A nd you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

29 B ut as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.

But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.

30 B ut what does the Scripture say? “ Cast out the bondwoman and her son, For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”

Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”

31 S o then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.