- 4:1 But I say, As long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, though he is lord of all;
然而我说，后嗣几时还是孩童，他虽是全业的主人，却与奴仆毫无分别，
- 4:2 But he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
乃是在监护人和管家的手下，直到父亲所预定的时候。
- 4:3 So also we, when we were children, were kept in slavery under the elements of the world;
我们也是这样，为孩童的时候，受奴役于世上的蒙学之下；
- 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law,
及至时候满足，神就差出祂的儿子，由女子所生，且生在律法以下，
- 4:5 That He might redeem those under law that we might receive the sonship.
要把律法以下的人赎出来，好叫我们得着儿子的名分。
- 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father!
而且因你们是儿子，神就差出祂儿子的灵，进入我们的心，呼叫：阿爸，父！
- 4:7 So then you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, an heir also through God.
这样，你不再是奴仆，乃是儿子了；既是儿子，也就借着神为后嗣。
- 4:8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were slaves to the gods which by nature are not gods;
但从前你们不认识神的时候，是给那些本性上不是神的作奴仆。
- 4:9 But now, having come to know God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and poor elements, to which you desire to be enslaved yet again?
现在你们既然认识神，更可说是神所认识的，怎么还要转向那软弱乏用的蒙学，情愿重新再给它们作奴仆？
- 4:10 You observe days and months and seasons and years;
你们谨守日子、月分、节期、年分；
- 4:11 I fear for you, lest I have labored upon you in vain.
我为你们害怕，惟恐我在你们身上是徒然劳苦。
- 4:12 Become as I am, because I also am as you are, brothers, I beseech you; you have not wronged me at all.
弟兄们，我求你们要像我一样，因为我也像你们一样；你们一点没有亏负我。
- 4:13 And you know that because of weakness of my flesh I announced the gospel to you the first time.
你们知道我初次传福音给你们，是因为肉身有疾病。
- 4:14 And that which was a trial to you in my flesh you did not despise nor loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, indeed as Christ Jesus.
那在我肉身上成为你们试炼的，你们并没有轻看，也没有厌弃；反倒接待我，如同神的使者，如同基督耶稣。
- 4:15 Where then is your felicitation? For I testify concerning you that if possible you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
这样，你们当日所庆幸的福气在那里？我能给你们作见证，若是可能，那时你们已把自己的眼睛剜出来给我了。
- 4:16 So then have I become your enemy by presenting the truth to you?
现在我将真理告诉你们，就成了你们的仇敌么？
- 4:17 They are zealous of you, but not rightly; but they desire to shut you out that you may be zealous of them.
那些人热心待你们，不是好意，乃是要离间你们，叫你们热心待他们。
- 4:18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
在善事上，常常热心待人，原是好的，却不单我与你们同在的时候才这样。
- 4:19 My children, with whom I travail again in birth until Christ is formed in you,
我的孩子们，我为你们再受生产之苦，直等到基督成形在你们里面。
- 4:20 Indeed, I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone because I am perplexed about you.
我巴不得现在与你们同在，改变我的口气，因我为你们心里作难。
- 4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
你们这愿意在律法以下的，请告诉我，你们岂没有听过律法么？
- 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one of the maidservant and one of the free woman.
因为律法上记着，亚伯拉罕有两个儿子，一个是出于使女，一个是出于自主的妇人。
- 4:23 However the one of the maidservant was born according to the flesh, but the one of the free woman was born through promise.
然而那出于使女的，是按着肉体生的；那出于自主妇人的，是借着应许生的。
- 4:24 These things are spoken allegorically, for these women are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bringing forth children unto slavery, which is Hagar.
这些都是寓意：两个妇人就是两约，一个是出于西乃山，生子为奴，乃是夏甲。
- 4:25 Now this Hagar is Sinai the mountain in Arabia and corresponds to the Jerusalem which now is, for she is in slavery with her children.
这夏甲就是在亚拉伯的西乃山，相当于现在的耶路撒冷，因耶路撒冷同她的儿女都是作奴仆的。
- 4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother;
但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我们的母，
- 4:27 For it is written, "Rejoice, barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not travailing, because many are the children of her who is desolate rather than of her who has her husband.''
因为经上记着：“那不生育，没有生产过的，你要快乐；那未曾经过产难的，你要放声呼喊，因为独居的，比有丈夫的儿女更多。”
- 4:28 But you, brothers, in the way Isaac was, are children of promise.
弟兄们，你们乃是借着应许生的儿女，像以撒一样。
- 4:29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
只是，当时那按着肉体生的，怎样逼迫了那按着灵生的，现在也是这样。
- 4:30 But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the maidservant and her son, for the son of the maidservant shall by no means inherit with the son of the free woman.''
然而经上是怎么说的？“把使女和她儿子赶出去，因为使女的儿子，绝不可与自主妇人的儿子一同承受产业。”
- 4:31 So then, brothers, we are not children of the maidservant but of the free woman.
所以，弟兄们，我们不是使女的儿女，乃是自主妇人的儿女了。