1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,¹ though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is ^wunder guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were ^xenslaved to the ^yelementary principles² of the world. 4 But when the ^zfullness of time had come, God ^asent forth his Son, ^bborn ^cof woman, born ^dunder the law, 5 to ^eredeem those who were ^funder the law, so that we might receive ^gadoption as sons. 6 And ^hbecause you are sons, God has sent the ⁱSpirit of his Son ^jinto our hearts, crying, ^k“Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and ^lif a son, then an ^mheir through God.

8 ⁿFormerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are ^onot gods. 9 ^pBut now that you have come to ^qknow God, or rather to be ^rknown by God, how can you turn back again to the ^sweak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 ^tYou observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you ^uin vain.

12 Brothers,³ I entreat you, ^vbecome as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a ^wbodily ailment that ^xI preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, ^yas Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your ^zeyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the ^atruth?⁴ 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, ^bfor whom I am again ^cin the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed ^din you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.