我说，虽然那承受产业的是整个产业的主人，但在未成年的时候却与奴隶毫无分别，
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2仍是在监护人和管家的手下，直等他父亲预定的时候来到。But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3我们也是一样，在未成年的时候，被世上粗浅的学说☛“世上粗浅的学说”或译“宇宙的星宿”。所奴役，也是如此。Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4等到时候成熟，神就差遣他的儿子，为女子所生，且生在律法之下，But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5为要把律法之下的人赎出来，使我们获得儿子的名分。To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6因为你们是儿子，神就差他儿子的灵进入我们☛“我们”：有古卷是“你们”。的心，呼叫：“阿爸，父！”And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7可见，你不再是奴隶，而是儿子了，既然是儿子，就靠着神也成为后嗣了。保罗关怀加拉太人
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8但从前不认识神的时候，你们是给那些本来不是神的神明作奴隶；Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9现在你们既然认识神，更可说是被神所认识的，怎么还要转回那懦弱无用的粗浅学说☛“粗浅学说”或译“星宿之学”。，情愿再给它们作奴隶呢？But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10你们竟又谨守日子、月份、节期、年份，Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11我为你们担心，惟恐我在你们身上是枉费工夫了。I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12弟兄们，我劝你们，要像我一样，因为我也像你们一样。你们一点没有亏负我。Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13你们知道，我因为身体有疾病才有第一次传福音给你们的机会。Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14虽然你们为我身体的缘故受试炼，却没有轻看我，也没有厌弃我，反倒接待我如同神的使者，如同基督耶稣。And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15你们当日的好意哪里去了呢？那时若办得到，你们就是把自己的眼睛挖出来给我，也都情愿。这是我可以给你们作证的。Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16如今我把真理告诉你们，倒成了你们的仇敌吗？Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17那些热心待你们的人，不怀好意，是要隔绝你们，好使你们热心待他们。They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18在善事上，时刻热心待别人原是好的，却不只是我与你们同在的时候才这样。But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19我的孩子们哪，我为你们再受生产之苦，直等到基督成形在你们心里☛“成形在你们心里”或译“在你们当中成形”。。My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20我期望现今就在你们那里，可以改变我的口气，因为我为你们心里难过。夏甲和撒拉的例子
I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21你们这愿意在律法之下的人，请告诉我，你们没有听见律法吗？Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22因为律法上记着，亚伯拉罕有两个儿子，一个是使女生的，一个是自由的妇人生的。For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23那使女所生的是按着肉体生的；那自由的妇人所生的是凭着应许生的。But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24这是比方：那两个妇人就是两个约；一个妇人是出于西奈山，生子为奴，就是夏甲。Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25这夏甲是指着阿拉伯的西奈山☛有古卷是“因为西奈山是指着阿拉伯的一座山”。，与现在的耶路撒冷同类，因为耶路撒冷和她的儿女都是为奴的。For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26但另一妇人就是在上的耶路撒冷，是自由的，她是我们的母亲。But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27因为经上记着： “不怀孕、不生养的，你要欢乐； 未曾经过产难的，你要高声欢呼； 因为没有丈夫的，比有丈夫的有更多的儿女。”For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28弟兄们，你们是凭着应许作儿女的，如同以撒一样。Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29当时，那按着肉体生的迫害了那按着圣灵生的，现在也是这样。But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30然而经上是怎么说的呢？是说：“把使女和她儿子赶出去！因为使女的儿子绝不能与自由妇人的儿子一同承受产业。”Nevertheless 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 freewoman.
31弟兄们，这样看来，我们不是使女的儿女，而是自由妇人的儿女了。So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.