12. Brothers, I ask you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong.
13. You know that it was because of an infirmity of the flesh that I first preached the gospel to you.
14. Though my infirmity was a trial to you, you neither despised nor rejected me, but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15. So where is your blessing? For I bear witness of you that, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
16. Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17. They would zealously influence you, but not favorably. Yes, they would exclusively control you, so that you might consult them.
18. But it is good to be zealous in a good manner always and not only when I am present with you.
19. My little children, of whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
20. I desire to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am displeased with you.
21. Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
22. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a slave woman, the other by a free woman.
23. But he who was of the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but he of the free woman through the promise.
24. These things are an allegory, for these are the two covenants. The one is from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage; she is Hagar.
25. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children.
26. But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother.
27. For it is written: “Rejoice, barren womanwho does not bear;break forth and shout,you who have no labor pains!For the desolate has many more childrenthan she who has a husband.”