Epistula ad Galatas, 4

1. Dico autem: Quanto tempore heres parvulus est, nihil differt a servo, cum sit dominus omnium,

1. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate;

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

2. but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father.

3. Ita et nos, cum essemus parvuli, sub elementis mundi eramus servientes;

3. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe.

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

4. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

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

5. to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

6. Quoniam autem estis filii, misit Deus Spiritum Filii sui in corda nostra clamantem: “Abba, Pater!”.

6. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

7. Itaque iam non es servus sed filius; quod si filius, et heres per Deum.

7. So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

8. Sed tunc quidem ignorantes Deum, his, qui natura non sunt dii, servistis;

8. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no gods;

9. nunc autem, cum cognoveritis Deum, immo cogniti sitis a Deo, quomodo convertimini iterum ad infirma et egena elementa, quibus rursus ut antea servire vultis?

9. but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits, whose slaves you want to be once more?

10. Dies observatis et menses et tempora et annos!

10. You observe days, and months, and seasons, and years!

11. Timeo vos, ne forte sine causa laboraverim in vobis.

11. I am afraid I have labored over you in vain.

12. Estote sicut ego, quia et ego sicut vos; fratres, obsecro vos. Nihil me laesistis;

12. Brethren, I beseech you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong;

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

13. you know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first;

14. et tentationem vestram in carne mea non sprevistis neque respuistis, sed sicut angelum Dei excepistis me, sicut Christum Iesum.

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, as Christ Jesus.

15. Ubi est ergo beatitudo vestra? Testimonium enim perhibeo vobis, quia, si fieri posset, oculos vestros eruissetis et dedissetis mihi.

15. What has become of the satisfaction you felt? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

16. Ergo inimicus vobis factus sum, verum dicens vobis?

16. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17. Aemulantur vos non bene, sed excludere vos volunt, ut illos aemulemini.

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. Bonum est autem aemulari in bono semper, et non tantum cum praesens sum apud vos,

18. For a good purpose it is always good to be made much of, and not only when I am present with you.

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

19. My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you!

20. Vellem autem esse apud vos modo et mutare vocem meam, quoniam incertus sum in vobis.

20. I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

21. Dicite mihi, qui sub lege vultis esse: Legem non auditis?

21. Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear 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, one by a slave and one by a free woman.

23. Sed qui de ancilla, secundum carnem natus est; qui autem de libera, per promissionem.

23. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise.

24. Quae sunt per allegoriam dicta; ipsae enim sunt duo Testamenta, unum quidem a monte Sinai, in servitutem generans, quod est Agar.

24. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.

25. Illud vero Agar mons est Sinai in Arabia, respondet autem Ierusalem, quae nunc est; servit enim cum filiis suis.

25. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

26. Illa autem, quae sursum est Ierusalem, libera est, quae est mater nostra;

26. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

27. scriptum est enim: “Laetare, sterilis, quae non paris, erumpe et exclama, quae non parturis, quia multi filii desertae magis quam eius, quae habet virum”.

27. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."

28. Vos autem, fratres, secundum Isaac promissionis filii estis.

28. Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

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

29. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now.

30. Sed quid dicit Scriptura? “Eice ancillam et filium eius; non enim heres erit filius ancillae cum filio liberae”.

30. But what does the scripture say? "Cast out the slave and her son; for the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman."

31. Itaque, fratres, non sumus ancillae filii sed liberae.

31. So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.