Galatians 4 Parallel Bible Translations

Galatians 4 ▼
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1 Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, is in a state of servitude, tho' he is to be lord of 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 being under tutors and guardians, 'till the time prefix'd 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, whilst we were children, were in a state of servitude to the elements of the world, but when the time appointed was accomplished, 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 God sent forth his own son born of a woman, and subject to the law, to redeem those, 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 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 ye are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying Abba, that is, 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 that thou art no longer a bond servant, but a son: and if a son, then an heir of God thro' 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 When you did not know God, you did service to those, who in reality are no Gods; but now that you know God, 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 or rather that you are favoured by him, how can ye turn again to the weak and beggarly elements of the law, to which you desire again to be in 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 observing as you do, the days, the moons, the feasts and years. You observe days and months and seasons and years! You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
11 you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all 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 I beseech you, brethren, be as I am, for I was as you are. 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 It is not you that have done me any injury: tho' you knew through what infirmity of the flesh I heretofore preached the gospel to you, 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 yet you did not despise me for the trial which attended my person, nor treated me with scorn; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 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 benedictions did you then pour out upon me! for I bear you witness, that, had it been practicable, you would have pulled out your very 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 am I now become your enemy in continuing to 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 they court your affection, but not in a fair way; for they design to exclude me, that you might have the greater esteem for 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 just you should cultivate my affection for you upon all proper occasions, 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 dear children, how am I in pain, till Christ be 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 could be present this very moment with you, and suit my discourse accordingly, for I stand in doubt what to think of 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 But tell me, you that are so willing to be under the law, why don't you consider 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 there written, Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, 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 he, who was of the bond-woman, was born according to the ordinary course of nature; but he, who was of the free-woman, was born by virtue of the 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 these things have an allegorical meaning: the two women signify the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, which is represented by Agar, whose children were born in a state of servitude. 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 this Agar answers to the Jerusalem now in being, for she is in servitude 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 heavenly Jerusalem is represented by the free-woman, who 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 it is written, "rejoice thou barren, that bearest not; break out into loud acclamations, thou that hast not the travels of childbirth, for more are the children of the desolate, than of her that hath an 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 we, my brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise. 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 that was born in the ordinary course of nature, persecuted him, who was born by an extraordinary power; 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 but what saith the scripture? "cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall not 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 so then, my brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free-woman, by virtue of that freedom which Christ has procur'd for us. 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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