| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. | 1Now what I am saying is this: As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything. |
| 2Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. | 2Instead, he is placed under the care of guardians and servant managers until the time set by the father. |
| 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. | 3It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world. |
| 4When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, | 4But when the appropriate time had come, God sent his Son, born by a woman, born under the Law, |
| 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. | 5in order to redeem those who were under the Law, and thus to adopt them as his children. |
| 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" | 6Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry out, "Abba! Father!" |
| 7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. | 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir because of what God did. |
| 8But in the past, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. | 8However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all. |
| 9But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? | 9But now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? |
| 10You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. | 10You are observing days, months, seasons, and years. |
| 11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted. | 11I am afraid for you! I don't want my work for you to have been wasted! |
| 12I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; | 12I beg you, brothers, to become like me, since I became like you. You did not do anything wrong to me. |
| 13you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. | 13You know that it was because I was ill that I brought you the gospel the first time. |
| 14You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. | 14Even though my condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, or as if I were the Messiah Jesus. |
| 15What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. | 15What, then, happened to your positive attitude? For I testify that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. |
| 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? | 16So have I now become your enemy for telling you the truth? |
| 17They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. | 17These people who have been instructing you are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They want you to avoid me so that you will be devoted to them. |
| 18Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good--and not just when I am with you. | 18(Now it is always good to be devoted to a good cause, even when I am not with you.) |
| 19My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. | 19My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until the Messiah is formed in you. |
| 20I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don't know what to do about you. | 20Indeed, I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice, because I am completely baffled by you! |
| 21Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don't you hear the law? | 21Tell me, those of you who want to live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says? |
| 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. | 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. |
| 23But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. | 23Now the slave woman's son was conceived through human means, while the free woman's son was conceived through divine promise. |
| 24These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery--this is Hagar. | 24This is being said as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. The one woman, Hagar, is from Mount Sinai, and her children are born into slavery. |
| 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. | 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery along with her children. |
| 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. | 26But the heavenly Jerusalem is the free woman, and she is our spiritual mother. |
| 27For it is written: Rejoice, childless woman, who does not give birth. Burst into song and shout, you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate are many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband. | 27For it is written, "Rejoice, you childless woman, who cannot give birth to any children! Break into song and shout, you who feel no pains of childbirth! For the children of the deserted woman are more numerous than the children of the woman who has a husband." |
| 28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. | 28So you, brothers, are children of the promise, like Isaac. |
| 29But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. | 29But just as then the son who was conceived according to the flesh persecuted the son who was conceived according to the Spirit, so it is now. |
| 30But what does the Scripture say? Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman. | 30But what does the Scripture say? "Drive out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman." |
| 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. | 31So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman. |
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