1I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of all the estate; 2but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the elemental things of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6Because you are sons, God has sent 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 an heir through God. 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things? Do you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. 12Brethren, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13you know it was because of an illness in the flesh that I preached the gospel to you at first; 14and though my fleshly condition was a trial to you, you did not despise or scorn me, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself. 15What has become of the satisfaction you felt? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17They seek you, but for no good purpose; they want to shut you out, so that you may seek them. 18But it is always good to seek a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you. 19My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— 20I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. 21Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave and one by the free woman. 23But the son by the slave was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 24This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. 25Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and 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, O barren woman who does not bear;break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;for the children of the desolate are more numerousthan the children of her who has a husband.« 28Now you, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now. 30But what does the scripture say? »Cast out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.« 31So then, brethren, we are not children of the slave, but of the free woman.