8. However then, when ye did not know God, ye did service unto those who by nature are not gods.
9. But now, having known God, or rather being known of God, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, in which ye desire again to be in slavery?
10. Ye observe days and months and times and years.
11. I am afraid for you, lest I have bestowed labour upon you in vain.
12. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are; ye have not injured me at all.
13. Ye know how through weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14. And my affliction which was in my flesh ye did not despise, nor reject but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15. Where is then the blessedness ye spoke of? for I bear you record that if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them to me.
16. Am I, therefore, become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17. They are zealous after you, but not for good; they would exclude you from us, that ye might be zealous after them.
18. It is good to be always zealous to do good, and not only when I am present with you.
19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
20. I desire to be present with you now and to change my voice, for I stand in doubt of you.
21. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, have ye not heard the law?
22. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, but he of the freewoman was born through the promise.
24. Which things are an allegory; for these women are the two covenants: the one from the Mount Sinai, which begat unto slavery, which is Hagar.
25. For this Hagar or Sinai is a mount in Arabia, which corresponds to the one that is now Jerusalem, which together with her children is in slavery.
26. But the Jerusalem of above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth into praise and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.