Parallel Bible results for "Galatians 4"

Galatians 4

Lexham English Bible LEB

1 Now I say, for as long a time [as] the heir is a child, [he is] no different from a slave, [although he] is master of everything,

2 but he is under guardians and managers until the time set by [his] father.

3 So also we, when we were children, we were enslaved under the elemental spirits of the world.

4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5 in order that he might redeem those under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption.

6 And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba! (Father!),"

7 so that you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, also an heir through God.

8 But at that time [when you] did not know God, you were enslaved to the things which by nature are not gods.

9 But now, [because you] have come to know God, or rather have come to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

10 You carefully observe days and months and seasons and years.

11 I am afraid [for] you, lest perhaps I have labored for you in vain!

12 I ask you, brothers, become like me, because I also [have become] like you. You have done me no [wrong]!

13 But you know that because of an illness of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time.

14 And you did not despise or disdain [what was] a trial for you in my flesh, but you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus.

15 So where [is] your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes [and] given [them] to me!

16 So then, have I become your enemy [by] being truthful to you?

17 They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they want to exclude you, in order that you may seek them [zealously].

18 But [it is] good to be sought zealously in good at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

19 My children, for whom I am having birth pains again, until Christ is formed in you!

20 But I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone because I am perplexed about you.

21 Tell me, [you] who are wanting to be under the law, do you not understand the law?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the female slave and one by the free woman.

23 But the one by the female slave was born according to human descent, and the one by the free woman through the promise,

24 which [things] are spoken allegorically, for these [women] are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing [children] for slavery, who is Hagar.

25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is a slave with her children.

26 But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.

27 For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to [children]; burst out and shout, [you] who do not have birth pains, because many [are] the children of the desolate [woman], even more than [those of] the one who has a husband."<note: A quotation from Isa 54:1>

28 But you, brothers, are children of the promise, just as Isaac.

29 But just as at that time the [child] born according to human descent persecuted the [child born] according to the Spirit, so also now.

30 But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the female slave and her son, for the son of the female slave will never inherit with the son" of the free woman.

31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female slave but of the free woman.

New International Version NIV

1 What 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.

2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.

3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

9 But 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?

10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.

13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,

14 and 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.

15 Where, 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.

16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17 Those 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.

18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.

19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

23 His 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.

24 These 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.

25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

27 For 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.”

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.

29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

30 But 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.”

31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.