Galatians 4:17–5:4

17 They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them. 18 But it is always good to be pursuedB in a good manner—and not just when I am with you. 19 My children,ai I am again suffering labor painsaj for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.

SARAH AND HAGAR: TWO COVENANTS

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abrahamak had two sons, one by a slaveal and the other by a free woman. 23 But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise. 24 These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinaiam and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.an 25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabiaao and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,ap for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem aboveaq is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,ar

Rejoice, childless woman,as

unable to give birth.

Burst into song and shout,

you who are not in labor,

for the children of the desolate woman will be many,

more numerous than those

of the woman who has a husband.C,a

28 Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac,b are children of promise.c 29 But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit,d so also now.e 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.”D,f 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.g

FREEDOM OF THE CHRISTIAN

5 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firmh, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.i 2 Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.j