1 N ow 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,

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

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

3 E ven so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements 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 had come, 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 t o 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 A nd because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “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 of God through Christ. Fears for the Church

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

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

However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

9 B ut 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?

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

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

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

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

13 Y ou know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.

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

14 A nd 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.

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 hat 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.

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 H ave I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17 T hey zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for 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 to be zealous in a good thing always, 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 little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—

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

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 desire to be under the law, do you not hear 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: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.

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

23 B ut he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through 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 w hich things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which 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 f or this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage 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, which is the mother of us all.

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

27 F or 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.”

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

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

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

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 N evertheless 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.”

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 the bondwoman but of the free.

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