4:1 Dico autem : quanto tempore hæres parvulus est, nihil differt a servo, cum sit dominus omnium :

4:1 As long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all,

4:2 sed sub tutoribus et actoribus est usque ad præfinitum tempus a patre :

4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father.

4:3 ita et nos cum essemus parvuli, sub elementis mundi eramus servientes.

4:3 So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.

4:4 At ubi venit plenitudo temporis, misit Deus Filium suum factum ex muliere, factum sub lege,

4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:

4:5 ut eos, qui sub lege erant, redimeret, ut adoptionem filiorum reciperemus.

4:5 That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.

4:6 Quoniam autem estis filii, misit Deus Spiritum Filii sui in corda vestra, clamantem : Abba, Pater.

4:6 And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.

4:7 Itaque jam non est servus, sed filius : quod si filius, et hæres per Deum.

4:7 Therefore, now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.

4:8 Sed tunc quidem ignorantes Deum, iis, qui natura non sunt dii, serviebatis.

4:8 But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them who, by nature, are not gods.

4:9 Nunc autem cum cognoveritis Deum, immo cogniti sitis a Deo : quomodo convertimini iterum ad infirma et egena elementa, quibus denuo servire vultis ?

4:9 But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements which you desire to serve again?

4:10 Dies observatis, et menses, et tempora, et annos.

4:10 You observe days and months and times, and years.

4:11 Timeo vos, ne forte sine causa laboraverim in vobis.

4:11 I am afraid of you, lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.

4:12 Estote sicut ego, quia et ego sicut vos : fratres, obsecro vos. Nihil me læsistis.

4:12 Be ye as I, because I also am as you brethren, I beseech you. You have not injured me at all.

4:13 Scitis autem quia per infirmitatem carnis evangelizavi vobis jampridem : et tentationem vestram in carne mea

4:13 And you know how, through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh,

4:14 non sprevistis, neque respuistis : sed sicut angelum Dei excepistis me, sicut Christum Jesum.

4:14 You despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

4:15 Ubi est ergo beatitudo vestra ? testimonium enim perhibeo vobis, quia, si fieri posset, oculos vestros eruissetis, et dedissetis mihi.

4:15 Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me.

4:16 Ergo inimicus vobis factus sum, verum dicens vobis ?

4:16 Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

4:17 Æmulantur vos non bene : sed excludere vos volunt, ut illos æmulemini.

4:17 They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.

4:18 Bonum autem æmulamini in bono semper : et non tantum cum præsens sum apud vos.

4:18 But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.

4:19 Filioli mei, quos iterum parturio, donec formetur Christus in vobis :

4:19 My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.

4:20 vellem autem esse apud vos modo, et mutare vocem meam : quoniam confundor in vobis.

4:20 And I would willingly be present with you now and change my voice: because I am ashamed for you.

4:21 Dicite mihi qui sub lege vultis esse : legem non legistis ?

4:21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?

4:22 Scriptum est enim : Quoniam Abraham duos filios habuit : unum de ancilla, et unum de libera.

4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman and the other by a free woman.

4:23 Sed qui de ancilla, secundum carnem natus est : qui autem de libera, per repromissionem :

4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman was by promise.

4:24 quæ sunt per allegoriam dicta. Hæc enim sunt duo testamenta. Unum quidem in monte Sina, in servitutem generans, quæ est Agar :

4:24 Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sina, engendering unto bondage, which is Agar.

4:25 Sina enim mons est in Arabia, qui conjunctus est ei quæ nunc est Jerusalem, et servit cum filiis suis.

4:25 For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is: and is in bondage with her children.

4:26 Illa autem, quæ sursum est Jerusalem, libera est, quæ est mater nostra.

4:26 But that Jerusalem which is above is free: which is our mother.

4:27 Scriptum est enim : Lætare, sterilis, quæ non paris ; erumpe et clama, quæ non parturis : quia multi filii desertæ, magis quam ejus quæ habet virum.

4:27 For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.

4:28 Nos autem, fratres, secundum Isaac promissionis filii sumus.

4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

4:29 Sed quomodo tunc is, qui secundum carnem natus fuerat, persequebatur eum qui secundum spiritum : ita et nunc.

4:29 But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now.

4:30 Sed quid dicit Scriptura ? Ejice ancillam, et filium ejus : non enim hæres erit filius ancillæ cum filio liberæ.

4:30 But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

4:31 Itaque, fratres, non sumus ancillæ filii, sed liberæ : qua libertate Christus nos liberavit.

4:31 So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.