1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba,*4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for "Father" or "Daddy" used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way. Father!" 7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? 10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong, 13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time. 14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15 What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. 18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.

19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman. 23 However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. 24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written,

"Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear.

Break out and shout, you who don’t travail.

For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband."✝4:27 Isaiah 54:1

28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 However, what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman."✝4:30 Genesis 21:10 31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.

1 Ma pean silmas seda: niikaua kui pärija on alaealine, ei erine ta kuigi palju orjast, ehkki ta on kogu vara omanik. 2 Ta allub hooldajatele ja eestkostjatele kuni isa määratud ajani. 3 Samuti ka meie: kui me olime alaealised, siis olime orjuses maailma algjõudude meelevalla all, 4 aga kui ettenähtud aeg sai täis, läkitas Jumal oma Poja, kes sündis naisest. Ta sündis Seaduse alla, 5 lunastama seadusealuseid, et meie saaksime pojaseisuse. 6 Ja kuna te olete tema pojad, siis on Jumal läkitanud teie südamesse oma Poja Vaimu, kes hüüab: „Abba! Isa!" 7 Niisiis ei ole sa enam ori, vaid Jumala laps; ja kuna sa oled tema laps, on Jumal teinud sinust ka pärija.

8 Varem, kui te veel Jumalast midagi ei teadnud, te orjasite neid, kes loomult ei olegi jumalad. 9 Aga nüüd, kui te olete Jumala ära tundnud, või õigemini, tema on teid ära tundnud, kuidas te võite pöörduda tagasi nende nõrkade ja armetute algjõudude juurde, nagu tahaksite jälle neid hakata orjama? 10 Te jälgite hoolega igasugu päevi ja kuid ja aegu ja aastaid, 11 et ma kardan, kas ma ehk asjata olen teie pärast vaeva näinud.

12 Ma palun teid, vennad ja õed, saage minu sarnaseks, sest minagi olen saanud teie sarnaseks! Te ei ole mulle mingit ülekohut teinud. 13 Te ju teate, et kui ma esimesel korral kuulutasin teile evangeeliumi, olin ma haige. 14 Ja kuigi mu haigus oli teile katsumuseks, ei halvustanud ega põlastanud te mind, vaid võtsite mu vastu nagu Jumala ingli, nagu ma oleksin Kristus Jeesus. 15 Kus on siis nüüd minu õnnistus? Ma tunnistan teile, et kui oleks olnud võimalik, siis te oleksite oma silmad peast välja kiskunud ja minule andnud. 16 Kas ma olen saanud teie vaenlaseks, kuna räägin teile tõtt?

17 Need inimesed on õhinal teie ümber mitte hea pärast, vaid nad tahavad teid eemale tõrjuda minust, et te innukad oleksite nende kasuks. 18 Alati on põhjust olla innukas hea suhtes, mitte ainult siis, kui mina teie juures viibin. 19 Mu kallid lapsed, kelle pärast ma olen jälle sünnitusvaludes, kuni Kristus teie sees saab kuju! 20 Ma tahaksin olla praegu teie juures ja rääkida teiega teistsugusel toonil, sest ma olen teie pärast nõutu!

21 Öelge mulle teie, kes te tahate Seadusele alluda, miks te ei kuula Seadust? 22 Sest kirjutatud on, et Aabrahamil oli kaks poega, üks orjatariga, teine vaba naisega. 23 Orjatari poeg sündis lihaliku loomuse pärast, vaba naise poeg sündis aga Jumala tõotuse tulemusena.

24 Neid võib võtta võrdkujudena. Kaks naist on kui kaks lepingut: esimene on pärit Siinai mäelt ja sünnitab lapsi orjadeks – see on Haagar. 25 Haagar tähistab Siinai mäge Araabias ja vastab praegusele Jeruusalemma linnale, sest ta on koos oma lastega orjuses. 26 Aga ülalasuv Jeruusalemm on vaba naine, tema on meie ema. 27 Sest on kirjutatud:

„Rõõmusta, viljatu naine,

kes sa ei ole iial last sünnitanud;

hõiska rõõmust ja hüüa valjult,

sina, kes sa tuhusid ei tunne;

sest hüljatul naisel on rohkem lapsi

kui sellel, kellel on abikaasa!"

28 Nüüd olete teie, vennad ja õed, tõotuse lapsed sarnaselt Iisakiga. 29 Ent nagu tookord, kui inimlikust lootusest sündinud poeg kiusas taga Vaimu tõotusest sündinud poega, nii on ka nüüd. 30 Aga mida ütleb Pühakiri? „Aja minema orjatar ja tema poeg, sest orjatari poeg ei jaga kunagi pärandit vaba naise pojaga!" 31 Niisiis, vennad ja õed, me ei ole orjatari, vaid vaba naise lapsed.