^23 (A)And not only this, but also we ourselves, having ^(B)the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves ^(C)groan within ourselves, ^(D)eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, ^(E)the redemption of our body.

⁵ so that He might redeem those who were under ^[a]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^(A)sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, ^(B)God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “^(C)Abba! Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^(D)if a son, then an heir ^[b]through God.

⁸ However at that time, ^(E)when you did not know God, you were ^(F)slaves to ^(G)those which by nature are no gods. ⁹ But now, having known God, or rather having been ^(H)known by God, ^(I)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^[c](J)elemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ You ^(K)observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ^[d]over you for nothing.

¹² I beg of you, ^(L)brothers, ^(M)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. ¹³ But you know that it was because of a ^[e]bodily illness that I proclaimed the gospel to you the ^[f]first time; ¹⁴ and that which was a ^[g]trial to you in my ^[h]bodily condition you did not despise or ^[i]loathe, but ^(N)you received me as an angel of God, as ^(O)Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵ Where then is ^[j]that sense of blessing you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ So have I become your enemy ^(P)by ^[k]telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will zealously seek them. ¹⁸ But it is good always to be zealously sought in a commendable ^[l]manner, and ^(Q)not only when I am present with you. ^19 (R)My children, with whom ^(S)I am again in labor until ^(T)Christ is formed in you— ²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because ^(U)I am perplexed about you.

An Allegory of Two Covenants

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not ^(V)listen to the Law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(W)one by the servant-woman and ^(X)one by the free woman. ²³ But ^(Y)the son by the servant-woman had been born according to the flesh, while ^(Z)the son by the free woman through the promise. ^24 [m](AA)This is ^[n]spoken with allegory, for these women are two covenants: one from ^(AB)Mount Sinai bearing children into ^(AC)slavery; ^[o]she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But ^(AD)the Jerusalem above is free; ^[p]she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

²⁸ And you brothers, ^(AF)in accordance with Isaac, are ^(AG)children of promise. ²⁹ But as at that time ^(AH)he who was born according to the flesh ^(AI)was persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(AJ)so it is now also. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say?

³¹ So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant-woman, ^[q]but of the free woman.