²¹ that ·everything God made [the creation itself] would be set free from ·ruin [inevitable decay; ^Lthe slavery of decay] to have the ·freedom and glory [or glorious freedom] that belong to God’s children.

²² We know that ·everything God made [all creation] has been ·waiting until now in pain, like a woman ready to give birth [^Lgroaning with labor pains until now]. ²³ Not only the world, but we also ·have been waiting with pain inside us [^Lgroan within ourselves]. We have the Spirit as the ·first part of God’s promise [^Lfirstfruits; ^Cas the first crops confirmed the future harvest, so the Spirit’s presence confirms believers’ final salvation]. So we are [eagerly] waiting for ·God to finish making us his own children [^Lour adoption], which means ·our bodies will be made free [^Lthe redemption of our bodies].