Lettera ai Galati 4

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Dico autem: Quanto tempore heres parvulus est, nihil differt a servo, cumsit dominus omnium,	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 sed sub tutoribus est et actoribus usque ad praefinitumtempus a patre.	2 but he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the date set by his father.
3 Ita et nos, cum essemus parvuli, sub elementis mundi eramusservientes;	3 In the same way we also, when we were not of age, were enslaved to the elemental powers of the world.
4 at ubi venit plenitudo temporis, misit Deus Filium suum, factum exmuliere, factum sub lege,	4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 ut eos, qui sub lege erant, redimeret, ut adoptionemfiliorum reciperemus.	5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.
6 Quoniam autem estis filii, misit Deus Spiritum Filii suiin corda nostra clamantem: “ Abba, Pater! ”.	6 As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
7 Itaque iam non es servus sedfilius; quod si filius, et heres per Deum.	7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
8 Sed tunc quidem ignorantes Deum, his, qui natura non sunt dii, servistis;	8 At a time when you did not know God, you became slaves to things that by nature are not gods;
9 nunc autem, cum cognoveritis Deum, immo cogniti sitis a Deo, quomodoconvertimini iterum ad infirma et egena elementa, quibus rursus ut antea servirevultis?	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 Dies observatis et menses et tempora et annos!	10 You are observing days, months, seasons, and years.
11 Timeo vos, ne fortesine causa laboraverim in vobis.	11 I am afraid on your account that perhaps I have labored for you in vain.
12 Estote sicut ego, quia et ego sicut vos; fratres, obsecro vos. Nihil melaesistis;	12 I implore you, brothers, be as I am, because I have also become as you are. You did me no wrong;
13 scitis autem quia per infirmitatem carnis pridem vobisevangelizavi,	13 you know that it was because of a physical illness that I originally preached the gospel to you,
14 et tentationem vestram in carne mea non sprevistis nequerespuistis, sed sicut angelum Dei excepistis me, sicut Christum Iesum.	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 Ubi est ergo beatitudo vestra? Testimonium enim perhibeo vobis, quia, sifieri posset, oculos vestros eruissetis et dedissetis mihi.	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 Ergo inimicusvobis factus sum, verum dicens vobis?	16 So now have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Aemulantur vos non bene, sed excluderevos volunt, ut illos aemulemini.	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 Bonum est autem aemulari in bono semper, etnon tantum cum praesens sum apud vos,	18 Now it is good to be shown interest for good reason at all times, and not only when I am with you.
19 filioli mei, quos iterum parturio,donec formetur Christus in vobis!	19 My children, for whom I am again in labor until Christ be formed in you!
20 Vellem autem esse apud vos modo et mutarevocem meam, quoniam incertus sum in vobis.	20 I would like to be with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed because of you.
21 Dicite mihi, qui sub lege vultis esse: Legem non auditis?	21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
22 Scriptum estenim quoniam Abraham duos filios habuit, unum de ancilla et unum de libera.	22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.
23 Sed qui de ancilla, secundum carnem natus est; qui autem de libera, perpromissionem.	23 The son of the slave woman was born naturally, the son of the freeborn through a promise.
24 Quae sunt per allegoriam dicta; ipsae enim sunt duo Testamenta,unum quidem a monte Sinai, in servitutem generans, quod est 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 Illud veroAgar mons est Sinai in Arabia, respondet autem Ierusalem, quae nunc est; servitenim cum filiis suis.	25 Hagar represents Sinai, a mountain in Arabia; it corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery along with her children.
26 Illa autem, quae sursum est Ierusalem, libera est, quaeest mater nostra;	26 But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother.
27 scriptum est enim: “ Laetare, sterilis, quae non paris, erumpe et exclama, quae non parturis, quia multi filii desertae magis quam eius, quae habet virum ”.	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 Vos autem, fratres, secundum Isaac promissionis filii estis.	28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
29 Sed quomodotunc, qui secundum carnem natus fuerat, persequebatur eum, qui secundumspiritum, ita et nunc.	29 But just as then the child of the flesh persecuted the child of the spirit, it is the same now.
30 Sed quid dicit Scriptura? “ Eice ancillam et filiumeius; non enim heres erit filius ancillae cum filio liberae ”.	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 Itaque,fratres, non sumus ancillae filii sed liberae.	31 Therefore, brothers, we are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman.