NOW I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differs in nothing from a servant though he is lord of all; (2)but is under guardians and stewards, until the time appointed by the father. (3)So also we, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elements[4:3] of the world. (4)But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under law, (5)that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (6)And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7)So that thou art no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, also an heir through God. (8)But at that time indeed, when ye knew not God, ye served those which are not in their nature gods. (9)But now, after having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that ye turn back again to the weak and poor elements[4:9], to which ye desire to be in bondage again anew? (10)Do ye carefully observe days, and months, and seasons, and years? (11)I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain. (12)Become as I am, for I also became as ye are, brethren, I beseech you. Ye injured me in nothing. (13)Nay, ye know that by reason of weakness of the flesh I preached the glad tidings to you the former time; (14)and my trial[4:14], which was in my flesh, ye despised not nor spurned, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. (15)Where is[4:15] then the happiness of which ye spoke? For I bear you witness, that if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes, and given them to me. (16)So then, have I become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? (17)They zealously seek you, not well; but they wish to exclude you, that ye may zealously seek them. (18)But it is good to be zealously sought in a good cause always, and not only when I am present with you. (19)My little children, of whom I travail again in birth, until Christ be formed in you! (20)And I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I am perplexed on account of you. (21)Tell me, ye who desire to be under law, do ye not hear the law? (22)For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman, and one by the freewoman. (23)But the one by the bondwoman was born after the flesh, and the one by the freewoman through the promise. (24)Which things are an allegory[4:24]. For these women are two covenants, one from mount Sinai, bearing children into bondage, (25)which is Hagar (for the word Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia), and answers to the Jerusalem that now is, for she is in bondage with her children. (26)But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all[4:26]. (27)For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; Because many are the children of the desolate, rather than of her who has the husband.