1 But as long as the person who has an inheritance coming to him is a child, he is really no better off than a slave, even though he himself is [rightfully] entitled [to the inheritance].
1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a (a)child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is (b)owner of everything,
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
1 Now I say that as long as the heir(A) is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner(B) of everything.
1 Now what I am saying is this: As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything.
2 He is [still] under [the direction of] guardians and managers [of his affairs] until the day his father decides [to give him his inheritance].
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
2 Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father.
2 Instead, he is placed under the care of guardians and servant managers until the time set by the father.
3 So also, when we [Jews] were like children, we were under bondage to the basic worldly rules [of the law of Moses].
3 So also we, while we were children, were held (A)in bondage under the (d)(B)elemental things of the world.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces(a) of the world.(C)
3 It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world.
4 But, when [God's] timing fully arrived, He sent His Son, born to a woman [i.e., Mary], born during [the time when] the law [of Moses was still in effect],
4 But when (C)the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, (D)born of a woman, born (E)under (e)the Law,
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent his Son, born by a woman, born under the Law,
5 so that He could buy back [from Satan] those who were [still] under [obligation to] the law of Moses, and that we could become adopted children.
5 so that He might redeem those who were under (f)the Law, that we might receive the adoption as (F)sons.
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
5 in order to redeem those who were under the Law, and thus to adopt them as his children.
6 And because you are [His] children, God sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, to call out, "Abba," [which means] "Father."
6 Because you are sons, (G)God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “(H)Abba! Father!”
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son(G) into our(b) hearts, crying, “Abba,(H) Father!”(I)
6 Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry out, "Abba! Father!"
7 So [now], you are no longer a slave but a child, and since you are a child, you also will receive an inheritance through [the blessings of] God.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir because of what God did.
8 At that time, when you did not know God [as your Father], you were in bondage to those who were, by nature, not really gods at all.
8 However at that time, (J)when you did not know God, you were (K)slaves to (L)those which by nature are no gods.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
8 But in the past, when you didn’t know God,(M) you were enslaved to things(c) that by nature are not gods.
8 However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all.
9 But now that you have come to know God [as your Father], or rather, to be known by Him [as His children], how can you turn back again to the weak, cheap, elementary teachings [of the law of Moses], to which you [seem to] desire to become enslaved?
9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be (M)known by God, (N)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless (h)(O)elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
9 But now, since you know God,(N) or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt(O) elemental forces?(P) Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
9 But now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again?
11 I am afraid for you, [i.e., for your spiritual safety], that possibly I may have spent a lot of effort on your behalf for nothing.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
11 I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
11 I am afraid for you! I don't want my work for you to have been wasted!
12 I urge of you, brothers, become like me [in this matter], for I have become like you. You did not do anything wrong to me, [even as I have not wronged you].
12 I beg of you, (Q)brethren, (R)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
12 I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me;
12 I beg you, brothers, to become like me, since I became like you. You did not do anything wrong to me.
13 But you are aware [I am sure] that when I first came preaching the Gospel [message] to you, I had a physical handicap.
13 but you know that it was because of a (j)bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the (k)first time;
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
13 you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness.
13 You know that it was because I was ill that I brought you the gospel the first time.
14 And when you could have been tempted to look down on me [because of the nature of my affliction], instead you welcomed me as [if I were] an angel, or even Christ Jesus Himself!
14 and that which was a (l)trial to you in my (m)bodily condition you did not despise or (n)loathe, but (S)you received me as an angel of God, as (T)Christ Jesus Himself.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
14 You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you.(d) On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
14 Even though my condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, or as if I were the Messiah Jesus.
15 Now where are those good feelings you had for me? For I can [honestly] testify that [at one time] you would have even gouged out your eyes and given them to me [for sight] if that had been possible.
15 Where then is (o)that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
15 What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
15 What, then, happened to your positive attitude? For I testify that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
17 Certain people are showing quite an interest in you, but it is not for your benefit. Instead, they are trying to separate you [from me], in hope that you will seek them out [for help].
17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
17 They(e) are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.
17 These people who have been instructing you are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They want you to avoid me so that you will be devoted to them.
18 Now, it is fine for someone to want to seek you out anytime, if it is for a good purpose, and not just when I am around [to be impressed].
18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable (q)manner, and (V)not only when I am present with you.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
18 Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you.
18 (Now it is always good to be devoted to a good cause, even when I am not with you.)
19 My little children [i.e., dear ones], I am again deeply pained [as a woman in childbirth] over your [spiritual] condition, until [the life of] Christ becomes formed in your character.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
19 My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until the Messiah is formed in you.
20 But I would like to be present with you and change the tone [of my remarks], because I am very distressed over your condition.
20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for (Z)I am perplexed about you.
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
20 I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.
20 Indeed, I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice, because I am completely baffled by you!
21 Tell me, those of you who desire to be under [obligation to the requirements of] the law of Moses: Are you really paying attention to what the law of Moses says?
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
21 Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law?
21 Tell me, those of you who want to live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says?
22 For it is written in the law about Abraham's two sons [Gen. 16]; one [was] by his slave woman [Hagar] and the other by the free woman, [his wife, Sarah].
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, (AB)one by the bondwoman and (AC)one by the free woman.
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman.
23 Now the son [Ishmael], born to the slave woman, was born simply of their natural relationship; but the son [Isaac], born to the free woman, was born in fulfillment of a [divine] promise.
23 But (AD)the son by the bondwoman (r)was born according to the flesh, and (AE)the son by the free woman through the promise.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
23 But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.
23 Now the slave woman's son was conceived through human means, while the free woman's son was conceived through divine promise.
24 This set of circumstances contains an illustration; for these two women [Hagar and Sarah] represent the two Agreements [between God and mankind]. The one [Agreement], given at Mount Sinai, represents Hagar, whose children became [the Israelites], enslaved under bondage [to the requirements of the law of Moses].
24 (s)(AF)This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from (AG)Mount Sinai bearing children (t)who are to be (AH)slaves; (u)she is Hagar.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
24 These things are illustrations,(f) for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai(W) and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.(X)
24 This is being said as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. The one woman, Hagar, is from Mount Sinai, and her children are born into slavery.
25 Now this woman, Hagar, is similar to Mount Sinai, in Arabia, and represents the present [earthly] Jerusalem [i.e., Israel], consisting of children in bondage [to the law of Moses].
25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia(Y) and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,(Z) for she is in slavery with her children.
25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery along with her children.
27 For it is written [Isa. 40:1], "[Woman] you should be happy that you have not had children. Cry over your inability to experience the pain of childbirth. For the deserted woman has had more children than the one with a husband."
27 For it is written,“(AJ)Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear;Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;For more numerous are the children of the desolateThan of the one who has a husband.”
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
27 For it is written:(AB)Rejoice, childless woman,(AC)who does not give birth.Burst into song and shout,you who are not in labor,for the children of the desolate are many,more numerous than thoseof the woman who has a husband.(AD)(g)
27 For it is written, "Rejoice, you childless woman, who cannot give birth to any children! Break into song and shout, you who feel no pains of childbirth! For the children of the deserted woman are more numerous than the children of the woman who has a husband."
29 But, just as it was then --- the son born in the ordinary way [i.e., Ishmael] persecuting the one born according to the Holy Spirit's [leading, i.e., Isaac] --- so it is now [i.e., Jews urging compliance with the requirements of the law of Moses persecuting those who refuse to return to dependance on that law for salvation. See 3:1-3].
29 But as at that time (AM)he who was born according to the flesh (AN)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, (AO)so it is now also.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
29 But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit,(AG) so also now.(AH)
29 But just as then the son who was conceived according to the flesh persecuted the son who was conceived according to the Spirit, so it is now.
30 What does the Scripture say about this matter? [It says, Gen. 21:10-12], "Get rid of the slave woman [Hagar], with her son [Ishmael]; for the son of the slave woman [Ishmael] will not inherit [what God promised to Abraham and his descendants], along with the son of the free woman [i.e., Isaac]."
30 But what does the Scripture say?“(AP)Cast out the bondwoman and her son,For (AQ)the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
30 Nevertheless 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 freewoman.
30 But what does the Scripture say?Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.(AI)(h)
30 But what does the Scripture say? "Drive out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman."
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