Galatians — Chapter 4

1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.

2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.

3So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.

4But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.

8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

9But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

11I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.

12I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

13You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

14And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.

15What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.

18Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.

19My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?

22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

24These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.

25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

27For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”

28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.

30But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

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

6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

12Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

13Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

14And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

17They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

18But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

20I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

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

22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9but 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?

10Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.

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

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

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

14and 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.

15Where 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise.

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

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

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

27For 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.

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

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

30Howbeit 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.

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

1Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.

2But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.

3So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world.

4But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.

6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!”

7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.

8Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.

9But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

10You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years.

11I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain.

12I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

13But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you,

14and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself!

15Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!

16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.

18However, it is good to be sought eagerly for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

19My children—I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!

20I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, because I am perplexed about you.

21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law?

22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

23But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise.

24These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.

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

26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

27For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.”

28But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac.

29But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now.

30But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son” of the free woman.

31Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

1But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;

2but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.

3So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.

4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,

5that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.

6And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”

7So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

9But 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?

10You observe days, months, seasons, and years.

11I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

12I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,

13but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.

14That 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.

15What 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.

16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.

18But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.

19My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—

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

21Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?

22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.

23However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

24These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27For 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.”

28Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

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

30However 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.”

31So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.