Galatians 4:2-12
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 4
2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3So we too, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elementary principles of the world. 4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters. 6Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, 'Abba! Father!' 7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
8However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are not gods.
9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
10You meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years.
11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
King James Version
Chapter 4
2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9But 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?
10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 4
2Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. 4When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" 7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.
8But in the past, since you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.
9But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
10You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years.
11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
New Living Translation
Chapter 4
2They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.
4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
5God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
6And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, 'Abba, Father.'
7Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
8Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.
9So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?
10You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.
11I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.
English Standard Version
Chapter 4
2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
10You observe days and months and seasons and years!
11I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
New International Version
Chapter 4
2The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
9But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces ? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
New King James Version
Chapter 4
2but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
7Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
9But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
