| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. | 1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything. |
| 2But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. | 2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father. |
| 3So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world. | 3So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. |
| 4But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, | 4But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, |
| 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. | 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. |
| 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls "Abba! Father!" | 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” |
| 7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God. | 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God. |
| 8Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. | 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. |
| 9But 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 worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? | 9But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? |
| 10You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years. | 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! |
| 11I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. | 11I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain. |
| 12I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong! | 12I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. |
| 13But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you, | 13You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. |
| 14and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself! | 14And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself. |
| 15Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me! | 15What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. |
| 16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? | 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? |
| 17They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly. | 17Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. |
| 18However, it is good to be sought eagerly for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you. | 18Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you. |
| 19My children--I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! | 19My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, |
| 20I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, because I am perplexed about you. | 20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you. |
| 21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law? | 21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says? |
| 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. | 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. |
| 23But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise. | 23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise. |
| 24These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. | 24These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. |
| 25Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. | 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. |
| 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. | 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. |
| 27For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband." | 27For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” |
| 28But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac. | 28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. |
| 29But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now. | 29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now. |
| 30But what does the scripture say? "Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son" of the free woman. | 30But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” |
| 31Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman. | 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. |
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