¹ But I am saying inasmuch time as the heir is an infant {Or: a minor. Same in 4:3} , he carries nothing of more-value-than that of a bondservant, though being lord of all,

² but is under commissioners and stewards till the appointed-day of the father.

³ So also, when we were infants, and have been enslaved under the elemental principles of the world,

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

⁵ in-order-that he might buy the ones up who were under the law in-order-that we might receive the sonship.

⁶ And because you° are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your° hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

⁷ So-then you are no longer a bondservant, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.

⁸ But indeed back then, not knowing God, you° were enslaved to the ones who are not by nature gods.

⁹ But now when you° knew God, but rather you° are known by God, how are you° returning again over to the weak and poor elemental principles, in which things you° again wish to be enslaved from the start?

¹⁰ You° yourselves observe days and months and seasons and years.

¹¹ I fear for you°, lest somehow I have vainly labored to you°.

¹² Brethren, I beseech of you°, become like I am, because I have also become like you° are. You° wronged me in nothing;

¹³ but you° know that I myself proclaimed the good-news to you° beforehand because of a weakness of the flesh.

¹⁴ And you° did not scorn, nor did you° spurn my test, the one in my flesh, but you° accepted me as a messenger of God, even as Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Therefore, what was your° good-fortune? For$ I testify of you°, If possible, you° would have given your° eyes to me, after you° shoveled {i.e., popped} them out.

¹⁶ So-then have I become your° enemy, declaring the truth to you°?

¹⁷ They are zealous for you° in no good way. But they wish to lock you° out from us in-order-that you° may be zealous for them.

¹⁸ But it is always good to be zealous in a good thing and not only while$ I was present$ with you°.

¹⁹ My little-children, of whom I am travailing again till which time Christ should be formed in you°.

²⁰ But I was wishing to be present$ with you° now, and to change my voice, because I am perplexed at you°.

²¹ Tell° me, the ones wishing to be under the law, are you° not hearing the law?

²² For$ it has been written, Abraham had two sons, one from the maidservant and one from the free woman. {Gen 21:2-9}

²³ But indeed the one from the maidservant has been born according-to the flesh, but the one from the free woman has been born through the promise.

²⁴ Which things are allegorized {i.e., compared} , for$ these women are two covenants$, indeed one from Mount Sinai, who is Hagar, giving-birth to children into bondage.

²⁵ For$ Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the Jerusalem which is now and she is enslaved with her children.

²⁶ But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is mother of all of us.

²⁷ For$ it has been written, ‘Barren one who is not bearing children, be joyous; burst forth and cry, the one who is not travailing, because many more are the children of the desolate rather than the one who has the husband.’ {Isa 54:1}

²⁸ Now brethren, we are children of the promise according-to Isaac.

²⁹ But just-like then, he who was born according-to the flesh was persecuting the one who was born according-to the Spirit, so it is also now.

³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? Cast forth the maidservant and her son, for$ the son of the maidservant should never inherit with the son of the free woman. {Gen 21:10}

³¹ Consequently$, brethren, we are not children of a maidservant, but of the free woman.