4:1 Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
4:1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,

4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
4:2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

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

4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.

4:9 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?
4:9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
4:10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.

4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
4:11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

4:12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I [am]; for I [am] as ye [are]: ye have not injured me at all.
4:12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.

4:13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
4:13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.

4:14 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.
4:14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

4:15 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.
4:15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.

4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
4:16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

4:17 They zealously affect you, [but] not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
4:17 They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.

4:18 But [it is] good to be zealously affected always in [a] good [thing], and not only when I am present with you.
4:18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.

4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
4:20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts 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 desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.

4:23 But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise.
4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
4:24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar--

4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
4:25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children--

4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
4:26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

4:27 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.
4:27 For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband."

4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

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

4:30 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.
4:30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."

4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.