International Standard Version

English Standard Version

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.

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

2Instead, he is placed under the care of guardians and servant managers until the time set by the father.

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

3It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world.

3In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.

4But when the appropriate time had come, God sent his Son, born by a woman, born under the Law,

4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

5in order to redeem those who were under the Law, and thus to adopt them as his children.

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

6Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry out, "Abba! Father!"

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

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.

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

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

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

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?

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 elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

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

10You observe days and months and seasons and years!

11I am afraid for you! I don't want my work for you to have been wasted!

11I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

12I beg you, brothers, to become like me, since I became like you. You did not do anything wrong to me.

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

13You know that it was because I was ill that I brought you the gospel the first time.

13You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,

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.

14and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

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.

15What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.

16So have I now become your enemy for telling you the truth?

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

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.

17They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.

18(Now it is always good to be devoted to a good cause, even when I am not with you.)

18It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,

19My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until the Messiah is formed in you.

19my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in 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!

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

21Tell me, those of you who want to live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says?

21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?

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

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

23Now the slave woman's son was conceived through human means, while the free woman's son was conceived through divine promise.

23But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

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.

24Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.

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

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

26But the heavenly Jerusalem is the free woman, and she is our spiritual mother.

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

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."

27For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”

28So you, brothers, are children of the promise, like Isaac.

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

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.

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

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."

30But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”

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

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.