1 I say that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, even though he is the master of everything.

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2 But he is under guardians and managers until the time set by his father.

But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

3 In the same way, we too, when we were children, were enslaved under the elemental principles of the world.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father.'

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through God.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8 But in the past, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those who by nature are not gods.

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9 But now, having come to know God—or rather, having been known by God—how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles, whose slaves you want to be once more?

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

10 You observe days and months and seasons and years!

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11 I fear for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been in vain.

I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

12 I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have done me no wrong.

Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

13 You know that it was because of a weakness in my flesh that I first preached the gospel to you.

Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

14 And though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15 What happened to your blessedness? I testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

16 So now, have I become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

17 They are zealous for you, but not in a good way. They want to exclude you, so that you might be zealous for them.

They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

18 It is good to be eagerly sought after for a good purpose always, and not just when I am present with you.

But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

19 My dear children, I am again suffering birth pains for you until Christ is formed in you.

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23 But the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, while the son by the free woman was born through the promise.

But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24 Now these things may be interpreted allegorically: These women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery—this is Hagar.

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27 For it is written: 'Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.'

For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29 But just as the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one born through the Spirit, so it is also now.

But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30 But what does the Scripture say? 'Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.'

Nevertheless 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 freewoman.

31 So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.