New King James Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,

1Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,

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

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

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

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

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

4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

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

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

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

6Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

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

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

8But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.

8However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

9But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

10You observe days and months and seasons and years.

10You observe days and months and seasons and years.

11I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

12Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.

12I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;

13You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.

13but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;

14And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

14and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

15What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.

15Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

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

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

17They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.

17They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.

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

18But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.

19My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

19My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you--

20I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about 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 who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

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

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

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

23But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

23But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.

24which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

24This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.

25for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—

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

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

26But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

27For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.”

27For it is written, "REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND."

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

28And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

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

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

30Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”

30But what does the Scripture say? "CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN."

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

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org