4:1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;
4:1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,

4:2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.
4:2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

4:3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
4:3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

4:4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
4:4 But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

4:5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
4:5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

4:6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

4:7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

4:8 Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:
4:8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

4:9 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?
4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
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 upon you in vain.
4:11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

4:12 I beseech you, brethren, become as I (am), for I also (am become) as ye (are). Ye did me no wrong:
4:12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I [am], for I also [have become] as you [are.] You have done me no wrong;

4:13 but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:
4:13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;

4:14 and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, (even) as Christ Jesus.
4:14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus [Himself.]

4:15 Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
4:15 Where then is 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.

4:16 So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?
4:16 Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?

4:17 They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.
4:17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out, in order 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.
4:18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.

4:19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you--
4:19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is 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.
4:20 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, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?

4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.
4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.

4:23 Howbeit the (son) by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the (son) by the freewoman (is born) through promise.
4:23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.

4:24 Which things contain an allegory: for these (women) are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
4:24 This is allegorically speaking: for these [women] are two covenants, one [proceeding] from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.

4:25 Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
4:25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.
4:27 For it is written, "REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND."

4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
4:28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him (that was born) after the Spirit, so also it is now.
4:29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him [who was born] according to the Spirit, so it is now also.

4:30 Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
4:30 But what does the Scripture say? "CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN."

4:31 Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.
4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.