| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, | 1Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. |
| 2but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. | 2Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. |
| 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. | 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. |
| 4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, | 4When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, |
| 5to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. | 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. |
| 6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” | 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" |
| 7Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. | 7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. |
| 8But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. | 8But in the past, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. |
| 9But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? | 9But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? |
| 10You observe days and months and seasons and years. | 10You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. |
| 11I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. | 11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted. |
| 12Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. | 12I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; |
| 13You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. | 13you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. |
| 14And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. | 14You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. |
| 15What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. | 15What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. |
| 16Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? | 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? |
| 17They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. | 17They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. |
| 18But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. | 18Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good--and not just when I am with you. |
| 19My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, | 19My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. |
| 20I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you. | 20I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don't know what to do about you. |
| 21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? | 21Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don't you hear the law? |
| 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. | 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. |
| 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, | 23But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. |
| 24which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— | 24These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery--this is Hagar. |
| 25for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— | 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. |
| 26but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. | 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. |
| 27For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.” | 27For it is written: Rejoice, childless woman, who does not give birth. Burst into song and shout, you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate are many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband. |
| 28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. | 28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. |
| 29But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. | 29But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. |
| 30Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” | 30But what does the Scripture say? Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman. |
| 31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. | 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. |
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