| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New International 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. | 1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. |
| 2Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. | 2The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. |
| 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. | 3So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. |
| 4When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, | 4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, |
| 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. | 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. |
| 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" | 6Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls 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 God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. |
| 8But in the past, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. | 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. |
| 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 are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? |
| 10You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. | 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! |
| 11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted. | 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. |
| 12I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; | 12I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. |
| 13you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. | 13As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, |
| 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. | 14and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. |
| 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. | 15Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. |
| 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? | 16Have I now become your enemy by 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. | 17Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. |
| 18Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good--and not just when I am with you. | 18It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. |
| 19My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. | 19My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ 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. | 20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! |
| 21Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don't you hear the law? | 21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of 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 the slave woman and the other by the 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. | 23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a 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. | 24These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. |
| 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. | 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. |
| 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. | 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our 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: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; 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. | 28Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. |
| 29But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. | 29At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same 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 Scripture say? "Get rid of 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 but of the free woman. | 31Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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