New International Version

Darby Bible Translation

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.

1

Sons and Heirs

Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all;

2

The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.

2

but he is under guardians and stewards until the period fixed by the father.

3

So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forcesa of the world.

3

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;

4

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

4

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

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to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.b

5

that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship.

6

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,c Father.”

6

But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7

So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

7

So thou art no longer bondman, but son; but if son, heir also through God.

8

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

8

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

But then indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods;

9

But now that you know God — or rather are known by God — how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forcesd? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

9

but now, knowing God, but rather being known by God, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly principles to which ye desire to be again anew in bondage?

10

You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

10

Ye observe days and months and times and years.

11

I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

11

I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.

12

I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.

12

Be as *I* [am], for *I* also [am] as *ye*, brethren, I beseech you: ye have not at all wronged me.

13

As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,

13

But ye know that in weakness of the flesh I announced the glad tidings to you at the first;

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and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

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and my temptation, which [was] in my flesh, ye did not slight nor reject with contempt; but ye received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

15

Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

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What then [was] your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye would have given [them] to me.

16

Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

16

So I have become your enemy in speaking the truth to you?

17

Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.

17

They are not rightly zealous after you, but desire to shut you out [from us], that ye may be zealous after them.

18

It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.

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But [it is] right to be zealous at all times in what is right, and not only when I am present with you --

19

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

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my children, of whom I again travail in birth until Christ shall have been formed in you:

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how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

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and I should wish to be present with you now, and change my voice, for I am perplexed as to you.

21

Hagar and Sarah

Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?

21

Hagar and Sarah

Tell me, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not listen to the law?

22

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

22

For it is written that Abraham had two sons; one of the maid servant, and one of the free woman.

23

His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.

23

But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through the promise.

24

These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.

24

Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar.

25

Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

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For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which [is] now, for she is in bondage with her children;

26

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

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but the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.

27

For it is written:
“Be glad, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband.”e

27

For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break out and cry, thou that travailest not; because the children of the desolate are more numerous than [those] of her that has a husband.

28

Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.

28

But *ye*, brethren, after the pattern of Isaac, are children of promise.

29

At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

29

But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him [that was born] according to Spirit, so also [it is] now.

30

But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”f

30

But what says the scripture? Cast out the maid servant and her son; for the son of the maid servant shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.

31

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

31

So then, brethren, we are not maid servant's children, but [children] of the free woman.

Parallel

New International Version

Darby Bible Translation

Galatians 4

Galatians 4