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,

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

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

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

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles 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 came, God sent out his Son, born to 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.

that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.

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 children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”

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

So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

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

However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who 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 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 Y ou observe days and months and seasons and years.

You observe days, months, seasons, and years.

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

I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

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

I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,

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

but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.

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.

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

So then, have I become your enemy by telling 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 seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek 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 always good to be zealous in a good cause, 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, of whom I am again in travail 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

but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

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

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to 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, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.

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

These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children 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 answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

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

But the Jerusalem that is 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, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.”

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

Now we, brothers, 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 then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also 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.”

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

So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.