Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

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.

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,

2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.

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

3So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under 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 time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of 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,

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

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

6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying 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 son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.

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

8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

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 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?

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 special days and months and seasons and years!

10You observe days and months and seasons and years.

11I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.

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

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

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 of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

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

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.

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

18Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am 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, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

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

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

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

21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand 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 the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

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

23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

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

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.

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 stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery 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 Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

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

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.”

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."

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

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

29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same 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? “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.”

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."

31Therefore, 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.

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