New International Version NIV
Hebrew Names Version HNV
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.
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But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;
2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
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but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.
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So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
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But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
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that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
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And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "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.
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So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Messiah.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
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However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are no 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?
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But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elements, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
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You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
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I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.
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I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,
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but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
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.
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That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn't despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Messiah Yeshua.
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.
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What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
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So then, have I 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.
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They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek 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.
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But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
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My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Messiah is formed in you--
20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
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but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for 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?
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Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don't you listen to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
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For it is written that Avraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one 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.
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However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through 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.
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These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which 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.
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For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in `Arav, and answers to the Yerushalayim that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
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But the Yerushalayim that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
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.”
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For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who don't bear. Break forth and shout, you that don't travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.
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Now we, brothers, as Yitzchak was, 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.
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But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is 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.”
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However what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman."
31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
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So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
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.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.