4:1 But I say that so long as the heir is a juvenile, he differs nothing from a slave though he is lord of all;
4:2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.
4:3 So we also, when we were juveniles, were being made slaves under the rudiments of the world:
4:4 but when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
4:5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
4:6 And because you+ are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
4:7 So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
4:8 Nevertheless at that time, not knowing God, you+ served as slaves to those that by nature are no gods:
4:9 but now that you+ have come to know God, and what's more, to be known by God, how do you+ turn back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, to which you+ desire to serve as slaves over again?
4:10 You+ observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
4:11 I am afraid of you+, lest by any means I have bestowed labor on you+ for nothing.
4:12 I urge you+, brothers, become as I [am], for I also [have become] as you+ [are]. You+ did me no wrong:
4:13 but you+ know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the good news to you+ the first time:
4:14 and that which was a trial to you+ in my flesh you+ did not despise, nor reject; but you+ received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus.
4:15 Where then is that blessedness of yours? For I bear you+ witness, that, if possible, you+ would have plucked out your+ eyes and given them to me.
4:16 So then have I become your+ enemy, by telling you+ the truth?
4:17 They zealously seek you+ in no good way; no, they desire to shut you+ out, that you+ may seek them.
4:18 But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you+.
4:19 My children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you+--
4:20 but I could wish to be present with you+ now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you+.
4:21 Tell me, you+ who desire to be under the law, don't you+ hear the law?
4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the free woman.
4:23 Nevertheless the [son] by the slave woman is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the free woman [is born] through promise.
4:24 Which things contain an allegory: for these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children to slavery, which is Hagar.
4:25 Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answers to the Jerusalem that now is: for she works as a slave along with her children.
4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, you barren who do not bear; Break forth and cry, you who do not travail: For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has the husband.
4:28 Now you+, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
4:29 But as then he who was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, so also it is now.
4:30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son: for the son of the slave woman will not inherit with the son of the free woman.
4:31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.