¹ But I say, Over so long a time the heir is an infant, he does not differ from a slave, though being lord of all;

² but he is under guardians and housemasters until the term appointed before by the father.

³ Even so we, when we were infants, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

⁴ But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, coming into being out of a woman, having come under Law,

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

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

⁷ So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.

⁸ But then, indeed, not knowing God, you served as slaves to those not by nature being gods.

⁹ But now, knowing God, but rather are known by God, how do you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements to which you desire to slave anew?

¹⁰ You observe days and months and times and years.

¹¹ I fear for you, lest somehow I have labored among you in vain.

¹² Brothers, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as you. You have not injured me at all.

¹³ But you know that through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you before,

¹⁴ and you did not despise my temptation in my flesh, nor did you spurn it. But you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ What then was your blessedness? For I bear you record that, if you were able, plucking out your eyes, you would have given them to me.

¹⁶ So then did I become your enemy speaking to you the truth?

¹⁷ They are zealous for you, but not well. But they only desire to shut you out, that you be zealous to them.

¹⁸ But it is good to be zealous always in a good thing, and not only in my being present with you.

¹⁹ My children, for whom I again travail until Christ should be formed in you,

²⁰ even now I desired to be present with you, and to change my voice; for I am in doubt as to you.

²¹ Tell me, those desiring to be under Law, do you not hear the Law?

²² For it is written: Abraham had two sons, the one out of the slave-woman, and one out of the free woman.

²³ But, indeed, he out of the slave-woman has been born according to flesh, and he out of the free woman through the promise;

²⁴ which things are being allegorized; for these are the two covenants, one indeed from Mount Sinai bringing forth to slavery, which is Hagar.

²⁵ For Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in slavery with her children.

²⁶ But the Jerusalem from above is free, who is the mother of us all.

²⁷ For it is written, "Rejoice, barren one not bearing; break forth and shout, you not travailing; for more are the children of the desolate than she having the husband."

²⁸ But brothers, we, like Isaac, are children of promise.

²⁹ But then even as he born according to flesh persecuted him born according to the Spirit, so also now.

³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave-woman and her son; for in no way shall the son of the slave-woman inherit with the son of the free woman."

³¹ Then, brothers, we are not children of a slave-woman, but of the free woman.