Galatians 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;	1 I mean that as long as the heir is not of age, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything,
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.	2 but he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the date set by his father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:	3 In the same way we also, when we were not of age, were enslaved to the elemental powers 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,	4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.	5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.	6 As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.	7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.	8 At a time when you did not know God, you became slaves to things that by nature are not 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?	9 but 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 destitute elemental powers? Do you want to be slaves to them all over again?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.	10 You are observing days, months, seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.	11 I am afraid on your account that perhaps I have labored for you in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.	12 I implore you, brothers, be as I am, because I have also become as you are. You did me no wrong;
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.	13 you know that it was because of a physical illness that I originally preached the gospel to you,
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.	14 and you did not show disdain or contempt because of the trial caused you by my physical condition, but rather you received me as an angel of God, 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.	15 Where now is that blessedness of yours? Indeed, I can testify to you that, if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?	16 So now have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.	17 They show interest in you, but not in a good way; they want to isolate you, so that you may show interest in them.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.	18 Now it is good to be shown interest for good reason at all times, and not only when I am with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,	19 My children, for whom I am again in labor 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.	20 I would like to be with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed because of you.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?	21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.	22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.	23 The son of the slave woman was born naturally, the son of the freeborn through a 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.	24 Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.	25 Hagar represents Sinai, a mountain in Arabia; it corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery along with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.	26 But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother.
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.	27 For it is written: "Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children; break forth and shout, you who were not in labor; for more numerous are the children of the deserted one than of her who has a husband."
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.	28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the 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.	29 But just as then the child of the flesh persecuted the child of the spirit, it is the same 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.	30 But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the slave woman and her son! For the son of the slave woman shall not share the inheritance with the son" of the freeborn.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.	31 Therefore, brothers, we are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman.