Galatians 4

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 But I say that, during the time an heir is a child, he is no different from a servant, even though he is the owner of everything.
2 he is under the control of guardians and administrators until the time fixed by his father.	2 For he is under tutors and caretakers, until the time which was predetermined by the father.
3 So too with us, as long as we were stil under age, we were enslaved to the elemental principles of thisworld;	3 So also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences 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 arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law,
5 to redeem the subjects of the Law, so that we could receive adoption as sons.	5 so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 As you are sons, God has sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son crying, 'Abba, Father';	6 Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your 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 And so now he is not a servant, but a son. But if he is a son, then he is 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 But then, certainly, while ignorant of God, you served those who, 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, since you have known God, or rather, since you have been known by God: how can you turn away again, to weak and destitute influences, which you desire to serve anew?
10 You are keeping special days, and months, and seasons and years-	10 You serve the days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am beginning to be afraid that I may, after al , have wasted my efforts on you.	11 I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I may have labored in vain among you.
12 I urge you, brothers,-be like me, as I have become like you. You have never been unfair to me;	12 Brothers, I beg you. Be as I am. For I, too, am like you. You have not injured me at all.
13 indeed you remember that it was an il ness that first gave me the opportunity to preach the gospel toyou,	13 But you know that, in the weakness of the flesh, I have preached the Gospel to you for a long time, and that your trials are in my flesh.
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 You did not despise or reject me. But instead, you accepted me like an Angel of God, even like 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 Therefore, where is your happiness? For I offer to you testimony that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me.
16 Then have I turned into your enemy simply by being truthful with you?	16 So then, 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 are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them.
18 Devotion to a praiseworthy cause is praiseworthy at any time, not only when I am there with you.	18 But be imitators of what is good, always in a good way, and not only when I am present 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 little sons, I am giving birth to you again, until Christ is 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 And I would willingly be present with you, even now. But I would alter my voice: for I am ashamed 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 desire to be under the law, have you not read 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 a servant woman, and one by a free 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 And he who was of the servant was born according to the flesh. But he who was of the free woman was born by the 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 These things are said through an allegory. For these represent the two testaments. Certainly the one, on Mount Sinai, gives birth unto servitude, which 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 For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is related to the Jerusalem of the present time, and it serves with her sons.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and that is the one that is our mother;	26 But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same 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 was written: “Rejoice, O barren one, though you do not conceive. Burst forth and cry out, though you do not give birth. For many are the children of the desolate, even more than of her who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, are like Isaac, children of the promise;	28 Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons 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, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is 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 And what does Scripture say? “Cast out the woman servant and her son. For the son of a servant women shall not be an heir with the son of a free woman.”
31 So, brothers, we are the children not of the slave girl but of the freewoman.	31 And so, brothers, we are not the sons of the servant woman, but rather of the free woman. And this is the freedom with which Christ has set us free.