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;
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.
3 So we also, when we were juveniles, were being made slaves under the rudiments of the world:
4 but when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because you{+} are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
8 Nevertheless at that time, not knowing God, you{+} served as slaves to those that by nature are no gods:
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?
10 You{+} observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid of you{+}, lest by any means I have bestowed labor on you{+} for nothing.
12 I urge you{+}, brothers, become as I [am], for I also [have become] as you{+} [are]. You{+} did me no wrong:
13 but you{+} know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the good news to you{+} the first time:
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.
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.
16 So then have I become your{+} enemy, by telling you{+} the truth?
17 They zealously seek you{+} in no good way; no, they desire to shut you{+} out, that you{+} may seek them.
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{+}.
19 My children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you{+}--
20 but I could wish to be present with you{+} now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you{+}.
21 Tell me, you{+} who desire to be under the law, don't you{+} hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the free woman.
23 Nevertheless the [son] by the slave woman is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the free woman [is born] through promise.
24 Which things contain an allegory: for these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children to slavery, which is Hagar.
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.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, you barren that 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.
28 Now you{+}, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29 But as then he who was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, so also it is now.
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.
31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.