Galatians 4 Parallel Bible Translations

Galatians 4 ▼
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1 Let me explain further. As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 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.
2 He is placed under the control of guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
3 It was the same way with us. When we were children, we were slaves to the principles of this world. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son [into the world]. A woman gave birth to him, and he came under the control of God's laws. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 God sent him to pay for the freedom of those who were controlled by these laws so that we would be adopted as his children. to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
6 Because you are God's children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, |Abba! Father!| And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
7 So you are no longer slaves but God's children. Since you are God's children, God has also made you heirs. So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
8 When you didn't know God, you were slaves to things which are really not gods at all. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
9 But now you know God, or rather, God knows you. So how can you turn back again to the powerless and bankrupt principles of this world? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? But 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 elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 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 forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
10 You religiously observe days, months, seasons, and years! You observe days and months and seasons and years! You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
11 I'm afraid for you. Maybe the hard work I spent on you has been wasted. I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12 Brothers and sisters, I beg you to become like me. After all, I became like you were. You didn't do anything wrong to me. Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.
13 You know that the first time I brought you the Good News I was ill. You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,
14 Even though my illness was difficult for you, you didn't despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were God's messenger or Christ Jesus himself. and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 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.
15 What happened to your positive attitude? It's a fact that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 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.
16 Can it be that I have become your enemy for telling you the truth? Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 These people [who distort the Good News] are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They don't want you to associate with me so that you will be devoted only to them. They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 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.
18 (Devotion to a good cause is always good, even when I'm not with you.) It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.
19 My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until Christ is formed in you. my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20 I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice. I'm completely puzzled by what you've done! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
21 Those who want to be controlled by Moses' laws should tell me something. Are you really listening to what Moses' Teachings say? Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?
22 Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one by a woman who was a slave and the other by a free woman. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
23 Now, the son of the slave woman was conceived in a natural way, but the son of the free woman was conceived through a promise [made to Abraham]. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 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.
24 I'm going to use these historical events as an illustration. The women illustrate two arrangements. The one woman, Hagar, is the arrangement made on Mount Sinai. Her children are born into slavery. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 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.
25 Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. She is like Jerusalem today because she and her children are slaves. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
27 Scripture says: |Rejoice, women who cannot get pregnant, who cannot give birth to any children! Break into shouting, those who feel no pains of childbirth! Because the deserted woman will have more children than the woman who has a husband.| For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” 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.”
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac. Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29 Furthermore, at that time the son who was conceived in a natural way persecuted the son conceived in a spiritual way. That's exactly what's happening now. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 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.
30 But what does Scripture say? |Get rid of the slave woman and her son, because the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.| But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 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.”
31 Brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman but of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
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