¹ As long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all,

² But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father.

³ So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.

⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:

⁵ That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.

⁶ And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.

⁷ Therefore, now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.

⁸ But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them who, by nature, are not gods.

⁹ But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements which you desire to serve again?

¹⁰ You observe days and months and times, and years.

¹¹ I am afraid of you, lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.

¹² Be ye as I, because I also am as you brethren, I beseech you. You have not injured me at all.

¹³ And you know how, through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh

¹⁴ You despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me.

¹⁶ Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷ They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.

¹⁸ But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.

¹⁹ My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.

²⁰ And I would willingly be present with you now and change my voice: because I am ashamed for you.

²¹ Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?

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

²³ But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman was by promise.

²⁴ Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sina, engendering unto bondage, which is Agar.

²⁵ For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is: and is in bondage with her children.

²⁶ But that Jerusalem which is above is free: which is our mother.

²⁷ For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.

²⁸ Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

²⁹ But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now.

³⁰ But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

³¹ So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.