Galatians 4

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;	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;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father:	2 he is under the control of guardians and administrators until the time fixed by his father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.	3 So too with us, as long as we were stil under age, we were enslaved to the elemental principles of thisworld;
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:	4 but when the completion of the time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of theLaw,
5 That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.	5 to redeem the subjects of the Law, so that we could receive adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.	6 As you are sons, God has sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son crying, 'Abba, Father';
7 Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.	7 and so you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir, by God's own act.
8 But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them, who, by nature, are not gods.	8 But formerly when you did not know God, you were kept in slavery to things which are not really gods atal ,
9 But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements, which you desire to serve again?	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?
10 You observe days, and months, and times, and years.	10 You are keeping special days, and months, and seasons and years-
11 I am afraid of you, lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.	11 I am beginning to be afraid that I may, after al , have wasted my efforts on you.
12 Be ye as I, because I also am as you: brethren, I beseech you: you have not injured me at all.	12 I urge you, brothers,-be like me, as I have become like you. You have never been unfair to me;
13 And you know, how through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh,	13 indeed you remember that it was an il ness that first gave me the opportunity to preach the gospel toyou,
14 You despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.	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.
15 Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness, that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and would have given them to me.	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.
16 Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?	16 Then have I turned into your enemy simply by being truthful with you?
17 They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.	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.
18 But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.	18 Devotion to a praiseworthy cause is praiseworthy at any time, not only when I am there with you.
19 My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.	19 My children, I am going through the pain of giving birth to you al over again, until Christ is formed inyou;
20 And I would willingly be present with you now, and change my voice: because I am ashamed for 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.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?	21 Tell me then, you are so eager to be subject to the Law, have you listened to what the Law says?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman.	22 Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave girl and one by the freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise.	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.
24 Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar:	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;
25 For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.	25 now Sinai is a mountain in Arabia and represents Jerusalem in its present state, for she is in slaverytogether with her children.
26 But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is our mother.	26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and that is the one that is our mother;
27 For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.	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.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.	28 Now you, brothers, are like Isaac, children of the promise;
29 But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now.	29 just as at that time, the child born in the way of human nature persecuted the child born through theSpirit, so now.
30 But 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 free woman.	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.
31 So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.	31 So, brothers, we are the children not of the slave girl but of the freewoman.