| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. | 1Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. |
| 2The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. | 2But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. |
| 3So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. | 3So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world. |
| 4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, | 4But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, |
| 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. | 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. |
| 6Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." | 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls "Abba! Father!" |
| 7So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. | 7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God. |
| 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. | 8Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. |
| 9But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? | 9But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? |
| 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! | 10You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years. |
| 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. | 11I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. |
| 12I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. | 12I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong! |
| 13As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, | 13But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you, |
| 14and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. | 14and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself! |
| 15Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. | 15Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me! |
| 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? | 16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? |
| 17Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. | 17They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly. |
| 18It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. | 18However, it is good to be sought eagerly for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you. |
| 19My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, | 19My children--I am again undergoing birth pains 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 wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, because I am perplexed about you. |
| 21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? | 21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand 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 the slave woman and the other by the free woman. |
| 23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. | 23But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise. |
| 24These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. | 24These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. |
| 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. | 25Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. |
| 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. | 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. |
| 27For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." | 27For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband." |
| 28Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. | 28But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac. |
| 29At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. | 29But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now. |
| 30But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of 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? "Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son" of the free woman. |
| 31Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. | 31Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman. |
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