International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Now what I am saying is this: As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything.

1Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,

2Instead, he is placed under the care of guardians and servant managers until the time set by the father.

2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

3It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world.

3So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

4But when the appropriate time had come, God sent his Son, born by a woman, born under the Law,

4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

5in order to redeem those who were under the Law, and thus to adopt them as his children.

5so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry out, "Abba! Father!"

6Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir because of what God did.

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

8However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all.

8However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

9But now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again?

9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

10You are observing days, months, seasons, and years.

10You observe days and months and seasons and years.

11I am afraid for you! I don't want my work for you to have been wasted!

11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

12I beg you, brothers, to become like me, since I became like you. You did not do anything wrong to me.

12I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;

13You know that it was because I was ill that I brought you the gospel the first time.

13but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;

14Even though my condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, or as if I were the Messiah Jesus.

14and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

15What, then, happened to your positive attitude? For I testify that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

15Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

16So have I now become your enemy for telling you the truth?

16So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17These people who have been instructing you are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They want you to avoid me so that you will be devoted to them.

17They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.

18(Now it is always good to be devoted to a good cause, even when I am not with you.)

18But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.

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

19My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you--

20Indeed, I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice, because I am completely baffled by you!

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

21Tell me, those of you who want to live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says?

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

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

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

23Now the slave woman's son was conceived through human means, while the free woman's son was conceived through divine promise.

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

24This is being said as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. The one woman, Hagar, is from Mount Sinai, and her children are born into slavery.

24This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.

25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery along with her children.

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

26But the heavenly Jerusalem is the free woman, and she is our spiritual mother.

26But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

27For it is written, "Rejoice, you childless woman, who cannot give birth to any children! Break into song and shout, you who feel no pains of childbirth! For the children of the deserted woman are more numerous than the children of the woman who has a husband."

27For it is written, "REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND."

28So you, brothers, are children of the promise, like Isaac.

28And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

29But just as then the son who was conceived according to the flesh persecuted the son who was conceived according to the Spirit, so it is now.

29But 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 also.

30But what does the Scripture say? "Drive out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman."

30But what does the Scripture say? "CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN."

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

31So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org