Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
16
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
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 For a good purpose it is always good to be made much of, and not only when I am present with you.
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 little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you!
19
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20 I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about 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 desire to be under law, do you not hear the law?
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 a slave and one by a free woman.
22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise.
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 Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.
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 is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
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 above is free, and she is our mother.
26
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.