Galatians 4
Worldwide English (New Testament)
4 Here is what I mean. When a man dies, his son is to receive his property. As long as the son is not grown up, he cannot have it. He has no more right than a servant, even though he really owns all the property.
2 He still has people who take care of him and he must obey them until the time set by his father.
3 So it is with us. Before we were grown up, we were like servants. We were just beginning to learn about the things of this world.
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son to make us free. He was born by a woman during the time when men had to obey the law.
5 God sent him to set the people free who were under the law. God sent him so that we would receive our rights as sons of God.
6 Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts. The Spirit calls out, `Father!'
7 So then, because of what God has done, you are no longer a slave but you are a son. And because you are a son, you will receive what he promised.
8 At first, you did not know God. At that time you obeyed things which are not real gods.
9 But now you know God. That is, God knows you. Then why do you turn to things that are weak and can do no good? Do you want to obey them again?
10 You have holy days, holy months, holy seasons, and holy years.
11 I fear that all my work for you has been for nothing.
12 My brothers, I beg you, be like me because I am like you. You did me no wrong.
13 You know that I was sick when I first told you the good news.
14 My sickness troubled you. But you did not think wrongly of me or turn away from me. You received me as if I were an angel from God, as if I were Christ Jesus.
15 Why are you not happy any more? I saw myself that you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if you could do such a thing.
16 Do you hate me because I tell you the truth?
17 Other people are trying hard to get you on their side. But they do not mean to help you. They want to get you away from Christ so that you will listen to them.
18 Of course, it is good if someone tries to help you, but only if it is for a good reason. It is always good, not only when I am with you.
19 My dear children, I feel pain for you again, like a mother when her child is being born. I will feel pain until Christ lives in your heart.
20 I wish I could be with you now, and not have to talk this way. But I am troubled about you.
21 Tell me, you people that want the law to control you, why do you not listen to the law?
22 The holy writings say that Abraham had two sons. One was the son of the slave woman. The other one was the son of the free woman.
23 The child of the slave woman was born as any child is born. But the child of the free woman was born because God promised he would be born.
24 These things have another meaning. These two women are like two agreements. One agreement came from Mount Sinai. The children are born slaves. That agreement is like Hagar.
25 So Hagar means Mount Sinai in the country of Arabia. She is like the city of Jerusalem today, because Jerusalem is a slave and her children are too.
26 But the city of Jerusalem in heaven is free, and that is our mother.
27 The holy writings say, `The woman who has not had a child, be happy! You who do not feel the pain of bearing a child, open your mouth and shout. The woman who is left alone has more children than the woman who has a husband!'
28 My brothers, we are like Isaac. We are born because God made a promise.
29 Abraham's child who was born as any child is born, troubled the other child who was born by the Spirit. It is that way today.
30 But what does the holy writings say? They says, `Put away the slave woman and her son. The son of the slave woman will have nothing when the father dies. The son of the free woman will have everything.'
31 So, my brothers, we are not the children of the slave woman, but we are children of the free woman.
Galatians 4
King James Version
4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But 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?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where 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.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For 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.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless 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.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
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