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 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 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.
1 Now what I mean [when I talk about children and their guardians] is this: as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave even though he is the [future owner and] master of all [the estate];
2 Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father.
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
2 Instead, he is placed under the care of guardians and servant managers until the time set by the father.
2 but he is under [the authority of] guardians and household administrators or managers until the date set by his father [when he is of legal age].
3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces(a) of the world.(C)
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 It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world.
3 So also we [whether Jews or Gentiles], when we were children (spiritually immature), were kept like slaves under the elementary [man-made religious or philosophical] teachings of the world.
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,
4 But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law,
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 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 Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry out, "Abba! Father!"
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.
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].
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 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 However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all.
8 But at that time, when you did not know [the true] God and were unacquainted with Him, you [Gentiles] were slaves to those [pagan] things which by [their very] nature were not and could not be gods at all.
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 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 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?
9 Now, however, since you have come to know [the true] God [through personal experience], or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elemental principles [of religions and philosophies], to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
11 I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
11 I am afraid for you! I don't want my work for you to have been wasted!
11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [to the point of exhaustion] over you in vain.
12 I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me;
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, to become like me, since I became like you. You did not do anything wrong to me.
12 Believers, I beg of you, become as I am [free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances], for I have become as you are [a Gentile]. You did me no wrong [when I first came to you; do not do it now].
13 you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness.
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 it was because I was ill that I brought you the gospel the first time.
13 On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I [remained and] preached the gospel to you the first time;
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 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 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.
14 and even though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus Himself.
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 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, 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 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 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 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.
17 These men [the Judaizers] eagerly seek you [to entrap you with honeyed words and attention, to win you over to their philosophy], not honorably [for their purpose is not honorable or worthy of consideration]. They want to isolate you [from us who oppose them] so that you will seek them.
18 Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you.
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 devoted to a good cause, even when I am not with you.)
18 Now it is always pleasant to be eagerly sought after [provided that it is] for a good purpose, and not just when I am with you [seeking you myself—but beware of the others doing it].
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.
19 My little children, for whom I am again in [the pains of] labor until Christ is [completely and permanently] formed within 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 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 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!
20 how I wish that I were with you now and could change my tone, because I am perplexed in regard to you.
21 Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law?
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 live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says?
21 Tell me, you who are bent on being under the Law, do you not listen to [what] the Law [really says]?
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 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 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 Now the slave woman's son was conceived through human means, while the free woman's son was conceived through divine promise.
23 But the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, while the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise.
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 (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 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.
24 Now these facts are about to be used [by me] as an allegory [that is, I will illustrate by using them]: for these women can represent two covenants: one [covenant originated] from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] that bears children [destined] for slavery; she is Hagar.
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 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 and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery along with her children.
25 Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
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,“(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, "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 then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit,(AG) so also now.(AH)
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 son who was conceived according to the flesh persecuted the son who was conceived according to the Spirit, so it is now.
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?“(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 woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman."
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.
31 So then, believers, we [who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free woman [the supernatural].
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.
International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.
King James Version Public Domain
New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org