Galatians 4

1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.

1 我說那承受產業的，雖然是全業的主人，但為孩童的時候卻與奴僕毫無分別，

2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.

2 乃在師傅和管家的手下，直等他父親預定的時候來到。

3 So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.

3 我們為孩童的時候，受管於世俗小學之下，也是如此。

4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

4 及至時候滿足，上帝就差遣他的兒子，為女子所生，且生在律法以下，

5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

5 要把律法以下的人贖出來，叫我們得着兒子的名分。

6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

6 你們既為兒子，上帝就差他兒子的靈進入你們 的心，呼叫：「阿爸！父！」

7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.

7 可見，從此以後，你不是奴僕，乃是兒子了；既是兒子，就靠着上帝為後嗣。

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

8 但從前你們不認識上帝的時候，是給那些本來不是神的作奴僕；

9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

9 現在你們既然認識上帝，更可說是被上帝所認識的，怎麼還要歸回那懦弱無用的小學，情願再給他作奴僕呢？

10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

10 你們謹守日子、月份、節期、年份，

11 I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.

11 我為你們害怕，惟恐我在你們身上是枉費了工夫。

12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

12 弟兄們，我勸你們要像我一樣，因為我也像你們一樣。你們一點沒有虧負我。

13 You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

13 你們知道我頭一次傳福音給你們，是因為身體有疾病。

14 And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.

14 你們為我身體的緣故受試煉，沒有輕看我，也沒有厭棄我，反倒接待我，如同上帝的使者，如同基督耶穌。

15 What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

15 你們當日所誇的福氣在哪裏呢？那時你們若能行，就是把自己的眼睛剜出來給我，也都情願。這是我可以給你們作見證的。

16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

16 如今我將真理告訴你們，就成了你們的仇敵嗎？

17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.

17 那些人熱心待你們，卻不是好意，是要離間你們 ，叫你們熱心待他們。

18 Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.

18 在善事上，常用熱心待人原是好的，卻不單我與你們同在的時候才這樣。

19 My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

19 我小子啊，我為你們再受生產之苦，直等到基督成形在你們心裏。

20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

20 我巴不得現今在你們那裏，改換口氣，因我為你們心裏作難。

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?

21 你們這願意在律法以下的人，請告訴我，你們豈沒有聽見律法嗎？

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

22 因為律法上記着，亞伯拉罕有兩個兒子，一個是使女生的，一個是自主之婦人生的。

23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

23 然而，那使女所生的是按着血氣生的；那自主之婦人所生的是憑着應許生的。

24 These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.

24 這都是比方：那兩個婦人就是兩約。一約是出於西奈山，生子為奴，乃是夏甲。

25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

25 這夏甲二字是指着阿拉伯的西奈山，與現在的耶路撒冷同類，因耶路撒冷和她的兒女都是為奴的。

26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

26 但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我們的母。

27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”

27 因為經上記着： 不懷孕、不生養的，你要歡樂； 未曾經過產難的，你要高聲歡呼； 因為沒有丈夫的，比有丈夫的兒女更多。

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

28 弟兄們，我們是憑着應許作兒女，如同以撒一樣。

29 At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.

29 當時，那按着血氣生的逼迫了那按着聖靈生的，現在也是這樣。

30 But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

30 然而經上是怎麼說的呢？是說：「把使女和她兒子趕出去！因為使女的兒子不可與自主婦人的兒子一同承受產業。」

31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

31 弟兄們，這樣看來，我們不是使女的兒女，乃是自主婦人的兒女了。