Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 As long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all,
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My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father.
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but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.
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So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world.
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:
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But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.
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in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
6 And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.
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And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
7 Therefore, now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.
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So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
8 But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them who, by nature, are not gods.
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Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.
9 But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements which you desire to serve again?
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Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again?
10 You observe days and months and times, and years.
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You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.
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I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.
12 Be ye as I, because I also am as you brethren, I beseech you. You have not injured me at all.
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Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong.
13 And you know how, through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh
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You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you;
14 You despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
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though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me.
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What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16 Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
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Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.
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They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them.
18 But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.
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It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.
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My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20 And I would willingly be present with you now and change my voice: because I am ashamed for you.
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I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?
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Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman and the other by a free woman.
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For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman was by promise.
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One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise.
24 Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sina, engendering unto bondage, which is Agar.
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Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery.
25 For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is: and is in bondage with her children.
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Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
26 But that Jerusalem which is above is free: which is our mother.
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But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother.
27 For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.
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For it is written, "Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married."
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
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Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac.
29 But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now.
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But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
30 But 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 free woman.
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But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman."
31 So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.
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So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.