Galatians 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 What I am saying is this: an heir, during the time while he is stil under age, is no different from a slave,even though he is the owner of al the property;	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 he is under the control of guardians and administrators until the time fixed by his father.	2 but he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the date set by his father.
3 So too with us, as long as we were stil under age, we were enslaved to the elemental principles of thisworld;	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 completion of the time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of theLaw,	4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem the subjects of the Law, so that we could receive adoption as sons.	5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.
6 As you are sons, God has sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son 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 and so you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir, by God's own act.	7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
8 But formerly when you did not know God, you were kept in slavery to things which are not really gods atal ,	8 At a time when you did not know God, you became slaves to things that by nature are not gods;
9 whereas now that you have come to recognise God -- or rather, be recognised by God -- how can younow turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt elements whose slaves you now want to be al overagain?	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 You are keeping special days, and months, and seasons and years-	10 You are observing days, months, seasons, and years.
11 I am beginning to be afraid that I may, after al , have wasted my efforts on you.	11 I am afraid on your account that perhaps I have labored for you in vain.
12 I urge you, brothers,-be like me, as I have become like you. You have never been unfair to me;	12 I implore you, brothers, be as I am, because I have also become as you are. You did me no wrong;
13 indeed you remember that it was an il ness that first gave me the opportunity to preach the gospel toyou,	13 you know that it was because of a physical illness that I originally preached the gospel to you,
14 but though my il ness was a trial to you, you did not show any distaste or revulsion; instead, youwelcomed me as a messenger of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.	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 What has happened to the utter contentment you had then? For I can testify to you that you wouldhave plucked your eyes out, were that possible, and 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 Then have I turned into your enemy simply by being truthful with you?	16 So now have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Their devotion to you has no praiseworthy motive; they simply want to cut you off from me, so that youmay centre your devotion on 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 Devotion to a praiseworthy cause is praiseworthy at any time, not only when I am there 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 children, I am going through the pain of giving birth to you al over again, until Christ is formed inyou;	19 My children, for whom I am again in labor until Christ be formed in you!
20 and how I wish I could be there with you at this moment and find the right way of talking to you: I amquite at a loss with 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 then, you are so eager to be subject to the Law, have you listened to what the Law says?	21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
22 Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave girl and one by the freewoman.	22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.
23 The son of the slave girl came to be born in the way of human nature; but the son of the freewomancame to be born through a promise.	23 The son of the slave woman was born naturally, the son of the freeborn through a promise.
24 There is an al egory here: these women stand for the two covenants. The one given on Mount Sinai --that is Hagar, whose children are born into slavery;	24 Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.
25 now Sinai is a mountain in Arabia and represents Jerusalem in its present state, for she is in slaverytogether 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 the Jerusalem above is free, and that is the one that is our mother;	26 But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother.
27 as scripture says: Shout for joy, you barren woman who has borne no children! Break into shouts ofjoy, you who were never in labour. For the sons of the forsaken one are more in number than the sons of thewedded wife.	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 you, brothers, are like Isaac, children of the promise;	28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
29 just as at that time, the child born in the way of human nature persecuted the child born through theSpirit, so now.	29 But just as then the child of the flesh persecuted the child of the spirit, it is the same now.
30 But what is it that scripture says? Drive away that slave girl and her son; the slave girl's son is not toshare the inheritance 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, brothers, we are the children not of the slave girl but of the freewoman.	31 Therefore, brothers, we are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman.