1Now I say this: for as long a time as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, though he is lord of everything;
2but he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by the father.
3So also we, when we were children, were kept enslaved under the elemental principles of the world.
4But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
5so that he might redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7So you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through God.
8But then, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those which by nature are not gods.
9But now, having come to know God—or rather, having been known by God—how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and impoverished elemental principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
10You are observing days and months and seasons and years.
11I am afraid for you, that somehow I have labored over you in vain.
12Become as I am, because I also became as you are, brothers; I beg you. You did me no wrong.
13But you know that it was because of a weakness of the flesh that I preached the gospel to you the first time,
14and though my condition was a trial to you in my flesh, you did not despise or spit at me, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
15Where then is your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.
16So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17They are zealous for you, but not for good; rather, they want to shut you out, so that you may be zealous for them.
18But it is good to be zealously courted in a good thing at all times, and not only when I am present with you,
19my children, for whom I am again in labor pains until Christ is formed in you—
20I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
21Tell me, you who want to be under the Law, do you not hear the Law?
22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.
23But the one by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through the promise.
24These things are spoken allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery—this is Hagar.
25Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
27For it is written: “Rejoice, barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor; for the children of the desolate woman are many, more than of her who has the husband.”
28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29But just as then the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
30But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son; for the son of the slave woman shall certainly not inherit along with the son of the free woman.”
31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.
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