| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything. | 1Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. |
| 2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father. | 2Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. |
| 3So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. | 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. |
| 4But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, | 4When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, |
| 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. | 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. |
| 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” | 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" |
| 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God. | 7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. |
| 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. | 8But in the past, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. |
| 9But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? | 9But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? |
| 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! | 10You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. |
| 11I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain. | 11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted. |
| 12I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. | 12I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; |
| 13You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. | 13you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. |
| 14And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself. | 14You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. |
| 15What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. | 15What 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. |
| 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? | 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? |
| 17Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. | 17They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. |
| 18Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you. | 18Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good--and not just when I am with you. |
| 19My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, | 19My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. |
| 20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you. | 20I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don't know what to do about you. |
| 21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says? | 21Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don't you hear the law? |
| 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. | 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. |
| 23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise. | 23But 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. |
| 24These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. | 24These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery--this is Hagar. |
| 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. | 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. |
| 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. | 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. |
| 27For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” | 27For it is written: Rejoice, childless woman, 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 those of the woman who has a husband. |
| 28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. | 28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. |
| 29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now. | 29But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. |
| 30But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” | 30But 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. |
| 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. | 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. |
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