1 What I mean is this. As long as the heir is a child, he differs in no respect from a slave, though he be the owner of the whole 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 but is under the control of guardians and trustees, until the time appointed by his father.
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 we Jews also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the empty externalities of the world.
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 the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
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 to redeem from captivity those under law, in order that we might receive our sonship.
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 sons, God sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Dear, dear 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 each one of you is no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir, too, through God's grace.
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 But once, when you Gentiles had no knowledge of God, you were slaves to gods which have no real being.
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 Now, however, when you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are beginning to turn back to those weak and beggarly externalities, eager to be in bondage to them 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, 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 alarmed about you for fear lest I may have bestowed labor on you to no purpose.
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 Brothers, I beseech you, become as I am, because I also have become as you are. You never did me any wrong;
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 on the contrary, you know that although it was illness which brought about my preaching the gospel to you at my first visit,
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 although my bodily affliction was a trial to you, you did not scoff at it nor spurn me, but welcomed me like an angel of God, like 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 Why then did you account yourselves so happy? (For I bear you witness that if you could you would have torn out your own 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 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 These men are courting your favor to no good purpose. They want to isolate you, so that you will be courting their favor.
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 It is always an honorable thing to have your favor sought in an honorable cause, always, and not only 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 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.)
20 How I wish I could be with you now, that I might change my tone; for I am perplexed 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 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, you who wish to be subject to the Law, why do you not listen to 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 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 that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman;
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 while the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, the son by the free woman was born in fulfilment 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 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 Now all this is an allegory, for these women are the two covenants; one from Mount Sinai, which is Hagar bearing children into bondage
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 (for the word Hagar stands for Mt. Sinai in Arabia and represents the present Jerusalem who with her children is in bondage.)
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, Rejoice, O thou barren one who dost never bear, Break forth in joy, thou that dost not travail; For the children of the desolate woman are many. Yea, more than hers who has 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 in old times the son born by the flesh used to persecute the son born by the power of the Spirit, so also it is now.
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 But what does the Scripture say? Send away the slave-woman and her son; for the slave's son shall not be heir along with the son of the free woman.
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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