Epistula ad Galatas, 4

1. dico autem quanto tempore heres parvulus est nihil differt servo cum sit dominus omnium

1. Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2. sed sub tutoribus est et actoribus usque ad præfinitum tempus a patre

2. But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father:

3. ita et nos cum essemus parvuli sub elementis mundi eramus servientes

3. So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.

4. at ubi venit plenitudo temporis misit Deus Filium suum factum ex muliere factum sub lege

4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:

5. ut eos qui sub lege erant redimeret ut adoptionem filiorum reciperemus

5. That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6. quoniam autem estis filii misit Deus Spiritum Filii sui in corda nostra clamantem Abba Pater

6. And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.

7. itaque jam non es servus sed filius quod si filius et heres per Deum

7. Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.

8. sed tunc quidem ignorantes Deum his qui natura non sunt dii serviebatis

8. But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them, who, by nature, are not gods.

9. nunc autem cum cognoveritis Deum immo cogniti sitis a Deo quomodo convertimini iterum ad infirma et egena elementa quibus denuo servire vultis

9. But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements, which you desire to serve again?

10. dies observatis et menses et tempora et annos

10. You observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11. timeo vos ne forte sine causa laboraverim in vobis

11. I am afraid of you, lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.

12. estote sicut et ego quia et ego sicut vos fratres obsecro vos nihil me læsistis

12. Be ye as I, because I also am as you: brethren, I beseech you: you have not injured me at all.

13. scitis autem quia per infirmitatem carnis evangelizavi vobis jam pridem

13. And you know, how through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh,

14. et temptationem vestram in carne mea non sprevistis neque respuistis sed sicut angelum Dei excepistis me sicut Christum Jesum

14. You despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15. ubi est ergo beatitudo vestra testimonium enim perhibeo vobis quia si fieri posset oculos vestros eruissetis et dedissetis mihi

15. Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness, that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and would have given them to me.

16. ergo inimicus vobis factus sum verum dicens vobis

16. Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

17. æmulantur vos non bene sed excludere vos volunt ut illos æmulemini

17. They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.

18. bonum autem æmulamini in bono semper et non tantum cum præsens sum apud vos

18. But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.

19. filioli mei quos iterum parturio donec formetur Christus in vobis

19. My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.

20. vellem autem esse apud vos modo et mutare vocem meam quoniam confundor in vobis

20. And I would willingly be present with you now, and change my voice: because I am ashamed for you.

21. dicite mihi qui sub lege vultis esse legem non legistis

21. Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?

22. scriptum est enim quoniam Abraham duos filios habuit unum de ancilla et unum de libera

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

23. sed qui de ancilla secundum carnem natus est qui autem de libera per repromissionem

23. But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise.

24. quæ sunt per allegoriam dicta hæc enim sunt duo testamenta unum quidem a monte Sina in servitutem generans quæ est Agar

24. Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar:

25. Sina enim mons est in Arabia qui coniunctus est ei quæ nunc est Hierusalem et servit cum filiis ejus

25. For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26. illa autem quæ sursum est Hierusalem libera est quæ est mater nostra

26. But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is our mother.

27. scriptum est enim lætare sterilis quæ non paris erumpe et exclama quæ non parturis quia multi filii desertæ magis quam ejus quæ habet virum

27. For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.

28. nos autem fratres secundum Isaac promissionis filii sumus

28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29. sed quomodo tunc qui secundum carnem natus fuerat persequebatur eum qui secundum spiritum ita et nunc

29. But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now.

30. sed quid dicit scriptura eice ancillam et filium ejus non enim heres erit filius ancillæ cum filio liberæ

30. But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

31. itaque fratres non sumus ancillæ filii sed liberæ qua libertate nos Christus liberavit

31. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.