1Then I say, that the heir as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be Lord of all,
2But is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the Father.
3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the rudiments of the world.
4But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, and made under the Law,
5That he might redeem them which were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of the sons.
6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, which crieth, Abba, Father.
7Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son: now if thou be a son, thou art also the heir of God through Christ.
8But even then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them, which by nature are not gods:
9But now seeing ye know God, yea, rather are known of God, how turn ye again unto impotent and beggarly rudiments, whereunto as from the beginning ye will be in bondage again?
10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11I am in fear of you, lest I have bestowed on you labor in vain.
12Be ye as I (for I am even as you) brethren, I beseech you: ye have not hurt me at all.
13And ye know, how through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the Gospel unto you at the first.
14And the trial of me which was in my flesh, ye despised not, neither abhorred: but ye received me as an Angel of God, yea, as Christ Jesus.
15What was then your felicity? for I bear you record, that if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them unto me.
16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17They are jealous over you amiss: yea, they would exclude you, that ye should altogether love them.
18But it is a good thing to love earnestly always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you,
19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you.
20And I would I were with you now, that I might change my voice: for I am in doubt of you.
21Tell me, ye that will be under the Law, do ye not hear the Law?
22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by a servant, and one by a free woman.
23But he which was of the servant, was born after the flesh: and he which was of the free woman, was born by promise.
24By the which things another thing is meant: for these mothers are the two Testaments, the one which is Hagar of mount Sinai, which gendereth unto bondage.
25(For Hagar or Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, and it answered to Jerusalem which now is) and she is in bondage with her children.
26But Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is the mother of us all.
27For it is written, Rejoice thou barren that bearest no children: break forth, and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children, than she which hath an husband.
28Therefore, brethren, we are after the manner of Isaac, children of the promise.
29But as then he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30But what saith the Scripture? Put out the servant and her son: for the son of the servant shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.
31Then brethren, we are not children of the servant, but of the free woman.