Galatians 4

NEW JERUSALEM	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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 the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate;
2 he is under the control of guardians and administrators until the time fixed by his father.	2 but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set 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 with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe.
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 time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem the subjects of the Law, so that we could receive adoption as sons.	5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6 As you are sons, God has sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son crying, 'Abba, Father';	6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "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 through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.
8 But formerly when you did not know God, you were kept in slavery to things which are not really gods atal ,	8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no 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 beggarly elemental spirits, whose slaves you want to be once more?
10 You are keeping special days, and months, and seasons and years-	10 You observe days, and months, and 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 I have labored over 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 Brethren, I beseech you, become as I am, for I also have 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 it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first;
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 though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but 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 What has become of the satisfaction you felt? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
16 Then have I turned into your enemy simply by being truthful with you?	16 Have I then 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 make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
18 Devotion to a praiseworthy cause is praiseworthy at any time, not only when I am there with you.	18 For a good purpose it is always good to be made much of, 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 children, with whom I am again in travail 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 could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about 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 law, do you not hear 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 slave 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 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through 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 are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she 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 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery 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 free, 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, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."
28 Now you, brothers, are like Isaac, children of the promise;	28 Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of 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 as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so 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 But what does the scripture say? "Cast out the slave and her son; for the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman."
31 So, brothers, we are the children not of the slave girl but of the freewoman.	31 So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.