^{1 Ref} But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;

² but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.

^{3 Ref} So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:

^{4 Ref} but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

^{5 Ref} that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

^{6 Ref} And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

^{7 Ref} So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

^{8 Ref} Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:

^{9 Ref} 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?

^{10 Ref} Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.

^{11 Ref} I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.

^{12 Ref} I beseech you, brethren, become as I `am', for I also `am become' as ye `are'. Ye did me no wrong:

^{13 Ref} but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:

^{14 Ref} 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.

^{15 Ref} 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.

^{16 Ref} So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?

^{17 Ref} They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.

^{18 Ref} 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 Ref} My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you--

^{20 Ref} but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.

^{21 Ref} Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

^{22 Ref} For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.

^{23 Ref} Howbeit the `son' by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the `son' by the freewoman `is born' through promise.

^{24 Ref} Which things contain an allegory: for these `women' are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.

^{25 Ref} Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.

^{26 Ref} But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.

^{27 Ref} 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.

^{28 Ref} Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

^{29 Ref} But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him `that was born' after the Spirit, so also it is now.

^{30 Ref} 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.

^{31 Ref} Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.

^{1 Ref} But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all;

² But is under keepers and managers till the time fixed by the father.

^{3 Ref} So we, when we were young, were kept under the first rules of the world;

^{4 Ref} But when the time had come, God sent out his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

^{5 Ref} That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons.

^{6 Ref} And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, saying, Abba, Father.

^{7 Ref} So that you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then the heritage of God is yours.

^{8 Ref} But at that time, having no knowledge of God, you were servants to those who by right are no gods:

^{9 Ref} But now that you have come to have knowledge of God, or more truly, God has knowledge of you, how is it that you go back again to the poor and feeble first things, desiring to be servants to them again?

^{10 Ref} You keep days, and months, and fixed times, and years.

^{11 Ref} I am in fear of you, that I may have been working for you to no purpose.

^{12 Ref} My desire for you, brothers, is that you may be as I am, because I am as you are. You have done me no wrong;

^{13 Ref} But you have knowledge that with a feeble body I was preaching the good news to you the first time;

^{14 Ref} And you did not have a poor opinion of me because of the trouble in my flesh, or put shame on it; but you took me to your hearts as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

^{15 Ref} Where then is that happy condition of yours? because I give you witness, that, if possible, you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me.

^{16 Ref} So then am I no longer your friend, because I give you true words?

^{17 Ref} Their interest in you is not good; but their desire is that you may be shut out, so that you may go after them.

^{18 Ref} But it is good to have an interest in a good cause at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

^{19 Ref} My children, of whom I am again in birth-pains till Christ is formed in you,

^{20 Ref} Truly my desire is to be present with you now, using a changed voice; for I am troubled about you.

^{21 Ref} Say, you whose desire it is to be under the law, do you not give ear to the law?

^{22 Ref} Because it is in the Writings, that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-woman, and one by the free woman.

^{23 Ref} Now the son by the servant-woman has his birth after the flesh; but the son by the free woman has his birth through the undertaking of God.

^{24 Ref} Which things have a secret sense; because these women are the two agreements; one from the mountain of Sinai, giving birth to servants, which is Hagar.

^{25 Ref} Now this Hagar is the mountain Sinai in Arabia, and is the image of the Jerusalem which now is: which is a servant with her children.

^{26 Ref} But the Jerusalem on high is free, which is our mother.

^{27 Ref} For it is in the Writings, You who have never given birth, be glad; give cries of joy, you who have had no birth-pains; for the children of her who has been given up by her husband are more than those of the woman who has a husband.

^{28 Ref} Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of the undertaking of God.

^{29 Ref} But as in those days he who had birth after the flesh was cruel to him who had birth after the Spirit, even so it is now.

^{30 Ref} What then do the Writings say? Send away the servant-woman and her son; for the son of the servant-woman will not have a part in the heritage with the son of the free woman.

^{31 Ref} So, brothers, we are not children of the servant-woman, but of the free woman.