Galatians 4 Parallel Bible Translations

Galatians 4 ▼
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1 NOW this I say, That the heir as long as he is young, cannot be distinguished from the servants, though he is the lord of them all. 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 But he is under guardians and stewards, until the time appointed 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 Even so we, when we were young, were subject 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 fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son who, born of a woman, became subject to the law, 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 To redeem them who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 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 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying, Abba, Avon,“ O Father, our 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 From now on you are not servants but sons; and if sons, then heirs of God through Jesus Christ. 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 Howbeit then, when you did not know God, you served those things which from their nature were not gods. 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 after you have known God, and, above all, are known of God, you turn again to those weak and poor principles, and you wish again to come under their bondage. 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 still observe days and months and times and years. You observe days and months and seasons and years! You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
11 I am afraid that perhaps I have labored among you in vain. 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 My brethren, I beseech you, put yourself in my place; just as once I put myself in your place: You have not offended me at all. 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 I was sick and weak when I preached the gospel to you at the first. 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 And yet you did not despise me, nor reject me on account of my weakness; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Jesus Christ. 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 Where is then the blessedness you had? for I can testify concerning you, that if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and have 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 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell 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 men do not envy you for good, but they would dominate you, so that you might envy 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 But it is good that you should always envy after good things, and not only when I am present 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 little children, for whom I am in travail again, until Christ be a reality 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 could be with you now, and could change the tone of my voice; because I am deeply concerned about you. 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 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 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 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by a bondmaid, and one by a freewoman. 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 But he who was born of the bondmaid was born after the flesh; but he who was born of the freewoman was born by promise. 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 Now these things are a symbol of the two covenants; the one from Mount Sinai, give girls birth to bondage, which is Hagar. 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 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and surrenders to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 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 which is above is free, and is the mother of us all. 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 For as it is written, Make merry, O you barren who bear not; rejoice and cry, O you who travail not; for the children of the forsaken are more numerous than the children of the one who is favored. 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 we, my brethren, are the children of promise, as was Isaac. Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29 But as then he who was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, even so it is 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 Nevertheless what does the scripture say? Cast out the bondmaid and her son; for the son of the maidservant shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. 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 So then, my brethren, we are not children of the maidservant but children of the freewoman. 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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