Galatians 4

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

1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is a child, they are no different from a slave, even though they actually own everything.

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

2The heir stays under the care of guardians and managers until the time set by their father.

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

3It was the same for us. When we were like children, we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

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

4But when the right time finally came, God sent his Son. He was born of a woman and born under the law.

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

5He came to buy the freedom of those who were under the law, so that we could be adopted as his own children.

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

6And because you are now his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. The Spirit calls out, 'Abba, Father.'

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

7So you are no longer a slave, but a child. And since you are a child, God has also made you an heir.

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

8In the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all.

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?

9But now that you know God—or rather, now that God knows you—why are you turning back to those weak and useless basic principles? Do you want to be their slaves all over again?

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

10You are carefully following special days, months, seasons, and years.

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

11I am afraid for you. I worry that all my hard work for you has been wasted.

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

12Brothers and sisters, I beg you to become like me, because I became like you. You haven't done anything to hurt me.

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

13You remember that it was because of a physical illness that I first preached the Good News to you.

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.

14Even though my illness was a trial for you, you did not look down on me or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, or even Christ Jesus himself.

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.

15Where is that joy you had then? I can tell you for a fact that, if it had been possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me.

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

16So have I now become your enemy just because I am telling you the truth?

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

17Those other people are working hard to win you over, but their motives are not good. They want to isolate you from us so that you will follow only 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.

18It is a fine thing for people to show a deep interest in you, provided their purpose is good and they do it all the time, not just when I am with you.

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

19My dear children, I am in the pain of childbirth for you all over again until Christ is fully formed in you.

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

20I wish I could be with you right now and change the way I am speaking, because I am confused about what to do with you.

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

21Tell me, you who want to be under the law: Don't you listen to what the law actually says?

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

22For the Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman.

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

23The son of the slave woman was born in the ordinary human way, but the son of the free woman was born because of God’s promise.

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

24These things can be taken as an illustration. The two women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and gives birth to children who are slaves; this 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.

25Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and represents the present city of Jerusalem, because she and her children are in slavery.

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

26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she 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.

27For the Scriptures say: 'Be glad, woman who cannot have children! Shout for joy, you who have never been in labor! For the woman who was deserted has more children than the woman who has a husband.'

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

28Now you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac was.

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

29Back then, the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same way now.碎

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.

30But what do the Scriptures say? 'Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.'

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

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