LO - Galatians - 4

4:1  Now, I say, as long as the heir is a minor, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all.

4:2  For he is under tutors and stewards, until the time before appointed by his father.

4:3  So, also, we, whilst we were minors, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

4:4  But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

4:5  that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

4:6  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

4:7  So that you are no more a bondman, but a son, and if a son, then heir of God through Christ.

4:8  But formerly indeed, when you knew not God, you served those, who by nature were not gods.

4:9  But now, having acknowledged God, (or rather, being acknowledged by God,) why do you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which again, a second time, you incline to be in bondage?

4:10  You carefully observe days and moons, and seasons and years.

4:11  I am afraid of you, lest perhaps, I have labored in vain among you.

4:12  Brethren, I pray you, be as I am: for I am you are. You have injured me in nothing.

4:13  You know, indeed, that in weakness of the flesh, I declared the gospel to you at first.

4:14  Yet that trial of mine, which was in my flesh, you did not despise; neither did you reject me, but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

4:15  What, then, was your happiness! for I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes, and given them to me.

4:16  Am I, then, become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

4:17  They love you ardently, not honorably. Yes, they wish to exclude us, that you may love them ardently.

4:18  But it is honorable to be ardently in love with a good man at all times, and not merely when I am present with you.

4:19  My little children, for whom I travail in birth again till Christ be formed in you;

4:20  I could wish, indeed, to be present with you now, and to change my speech; for I am exceedingly in doubt concerning you.

4:21  Tell me, you who wish to be under the law, do you hear the law?

4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons: one by the bondmaid, and one by the free woman.

4:23  But he, indeed, who was of the bondmaid, was begotten according to the flesh; but he who was of the free woman, was through the promise.

4:24  Which things are allegorized: for these women are two institutions; the one, indeed, from Mount Sinai, bringing forth children into bondage, which is Hagar,

4:25  (for the name of Hagar denotes Mount Sinai, in Arabia,) and she answers to the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children.

4:26  But the Jerusalem above, is the free woman, who is our mother.

4:27  For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren woman, who didst not bring forth! Break out and cry, thou who travailest not in birth; for more are the children of the deserted, than of her who had the husband."

4:28  We, therefore, brethren, like Isaac, are children by promise.

4:29  But even as then, he who was begotten according to the flesh, persecuted him who was begotten according to the Spirit: so also now.

4:30  But what says the scripture? "Cast out the bondmaid and her son; for the son of the bondmaid shall not inherit with the son of the free woman."

4:31  Well, then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondmaid, but of the free woman.