Galatians:4

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* Now I say , for as much time as the heir is a minor , he does not differ at all from a slave , though he is master of all , * but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father . * Even so we , when we were minors , were enslaved by the elements of the world . * But when the fullness of the time had come , God sent forth His Son , born of a woman , born under the law , * so that He might redeem those under the law , so that we might receive the adoption . * And because you are sons , God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts , crying out , "Abba , Father !" * Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son , and if a son , also an heir of God through Christ . * But at one time indeed , when you did not know God , you were slaves to those which by nature were not gods . * But now , having known God , or rather , having been known by God , how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements , to which once again you wish to be slaves ? * You observe days and months and seasons and years . * I am afraid for you , lest somehow I have worked hard for you in vain . * Brothers , I beseech you , become as I am , because I also [am ] as you [are ]. You have not wronged me at all . * You know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the gospel to you the former [time .] * And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise nor disdain , but as an angel of God you received me , even as Christ Jesus . * What then was your blessing ? For I bear you witness that , if possible , you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me ! * Have I therefore become your enemy by speaking the truth to you ? * They are zealous about you in the wrong way ; but they wish to shut you out , so that you will be zealous about them . * But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always , and not only when I am present with you . * My little children , for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you ! * And I wanted to be present with you just now and to change my tone ; because I am uncertain about you . * Tell me , you who wish to be under the law , do you not hear the law ? * For it is written that Abraham had two sons : the one by the servant girl , the other by a freewoman . * But he who was of the servant girl was born according to the flesh , and he of the freewoman through the promise , * which things are symbolic . For these are two covenants : one in fact from Mount Sinai , bearing children into slavery , which is Hagar - * for Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia , and corresponds to the present Jerusalem , and is in slavery with her children - * but the Jerusalem above is free , which is the mother of us all . * For it is written : "Rejoice , O barren , who does not give birth ; break forth and shout , who does not have birth pangs ; because the children of the desolate are many more than those of her who has a husband ." * But we , brothers , like Isaac , are children of promise . * But just as then the [one ] who was born according to the flesh persecuted the [one born ] according to the Spirit , so also it is now . * But what does the Scripture say ? "Cast out the servant girl and her son , for the son of the servant girl shall by no means inherit with the son of the freewoman ." * So then , brothers , we are not children of the servant girl , but of the free [woman ].

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