Galatians 4

1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;WEBBut I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,

2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.WEBbut is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.

3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:WEBSo we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.

4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,WEBBut when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,

5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.WEBthat he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.

6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.WEBAnd because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”

7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.WEBSo you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.WEBHowever at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?WEBBut now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?

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

11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.WEBI am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

12Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.WEBI beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,

13Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.WEBbut you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.

14And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.WEBThat which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.WEBWhat was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?WEBSo then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.WEBThey zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.

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

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

20I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.WEBbut I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?WEBTell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?

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

23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.WEBHowever, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.WEBThese things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.WEBFor this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.WEBBut the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.WEBFor it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”

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

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

30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.WEBHowever, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”

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