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Galatians 4:1-11 GW
Let me explain further. As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything. (2) He is placed under the control of guardians and trustees (the Jewish Law Code) until the time set by his father. (3) It was the same way with us. When we were children, we were slaves to the principles of this world. (4) But when the right time came, God sent his Son into the world. A woman gave birth to him, and he came under the control of God's laws. (5) God sent him to pay for the freedom of those who were controlled by these laws so that we would be adopted as his children. (6) Because you are God's children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, "Abba! Father!" (7) So you are no longer slaves but God's children. Since you are God's children, God has also made you heirs. (8) When you didn't know God, you were slaves to things which are really not gods at all. (9) But now you know God, or rather, God knows you. So how can you turn back again to the powerless and bankrupt principles of this world? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? (10) You religiously observe days, months, seasons, and years! (11) I'm afraid for you. Maybe the hard work I spent on you has been wasted.
Galatians 4:1-11 ALT
(1) Now I say, for as much time as [or, while] the heir is a minor, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is lord [or, owner] of all,
(2) but he is under guardians and trustees until the appointed time of the father.
(3) In the same way we also, when we were minors, we were under the rudimentary elements [or, basic teachings] of the world, having been enslaved.
(4) But when the fullness [or, completion] of the time came, God sent forth His Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under [the] Law,
(5) so that He should redeem [or, set free] the [ones] under [the] Law, so that we shall receive the adoption [or, the formal and legal declaration that we are His children].
(6) Now because you* are sons [and daughters], God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your* hearts [fig., inner selves], crying out, "Dad [Gr. Abba], Father!"
(7) Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ!
(8) But at that time indeed, not having known God, you* were serving as slaves to the [ones] not being by nature gods.
(9) But now, having known God, but rather having been known by God, how is it that you* are turning back again to the weak and poor [fig., worthless], rudimentary elements [or, basic teachings] to which once more you* desire again to be serving as a slave?
(10) You* yourselves carefully observe days and months and seasons and years!
(11) I fear for you*, lest somehow I labored over you* for nothing [or, without results].
Galatians 4:1-11 NWT
4 Now I say that as long as the heir is a babe he does not differ at all from a slave, lord of all things though he is, 2 but he is under men in charge and under stewards until the day his father appointed beforehand. 3 Likewise we also, when we were babes, continued enslaved by the elementary things belonging to the world. 4 But when the full limit of the time arrived, God sent forth his Son, who came to be out of a woman and who came to be under law, 5 that he might release by purchase those under law, that we, in turn, might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Now because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his Son into our hearts and it cries out: "Abba, Father!" 7 So, then, you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, also an heir through God. 8 Nevertheless, when you did not know God, then it was that you slaved for those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather now that you have come to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and beggarly elementary things and want to slave for them over again? 10 You are scrupulously observing days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have toiled to no purpose respecting you.
Galatians 4:1-11 CEV
(1) Children who are under age are no better off than slaves, even though everything their parents own will someday be theirs.
(2) This is because children are placed in the care of guardians and teachers until the time their parents have set.
(3) That is how it was with us. We were like children ruled by the powers of this world.
(4) But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law,
(5) so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God's children.
(6) Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father.
(7) You are no longer slaves. You are God's children, and you will be given what he has promised.
(8) Before you knew God, you were slaves of gods that are not real.
(9) But now you know God, or better still, God knows you. How can you turn back and become the slaves of those weak and pitiful powers?
(10) You even celebrate certain days, months, seasons, and years.
(11) I am afraid I have wasted my time working with you.
Galatians 4:1-11 BBE
(1) But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all;
(2) But is under keepers and managers till the time fixed by the father.
(3) So we, when we were young, were kept under the first rules of the world;
(4) But when the time had come, God sent out his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
(5) That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons.
(6) And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, saying, Abba, Father.
(7) So that you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then the heritage of God is yours.
(8) But at that time, having no knowledge of God, you were servants to those who by right are no gods:
(9) But now that you have come to have knowledge of God, or more truly, God has knowledge of you, how is it that you go back again to the poor and feeble first things, desiring to be servants to them again?
(10) You keep days, and months, and fixed times, and years.
(11) I am in fear of you, that I may have been working for you to no purpose.
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You will note the reference windows often include more than one translation of the Bible. The reason is to strive to gain the best possible understanding of the original Hebrew and Greek. Since we don't speak those languages, we rely on those who have come before and made the effort to translate those texts into English for us. Considering several translations gives the benefit of the understanding of several translation committees or individuals.
The Translations we quote are:
ALT - Analytical Literal Translation
ASV - American Standard Version (by the American revision committee in 1897).
Darby - 1889 Darby Bible
DRB - 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible
BBE - 1965 Bible in Basic English
LITV - Literal Translation of the Holy Bible
KJV - King James Version
MKJV - Modern King James Version
NWT - New World Translation
Webster - 1833 Webster Bible
RV - Revised Version
YLT - Young's Literal Translation