Galatians 4:12-20

New King James Version

¹²Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. ^(A)You have not injured me at all. ¹³You know that ^(B)because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. ¹⁴And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me ^(C)as an ^[a]angel of God, ^(D)even as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵^[b]What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷They ^(E)zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. ¹⁸But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. ¹⁹^(F)My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

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Footnotes

Galatians 4:14 Or messenger
Galatians 4:15 NU Where

Galatians 4:12-20

Young's Literal Translation

¹²Become as I [am] -- because I also [am] as ye brethren, I beseech you; to me ye did no hurt,

¹³and ye have known that through infirmity of the flesh I did proclaim good news to you at the first,

¹⁴and my trial that [is] in my flesh ye did not despise nor reject, but as a messenger of God ye did receive me -- as Christ Jesus;

¹⁵what then was your happiness? for I testify to you, that if possible, your eyes having plucked out, ye would have given to me;

¹⁶so that your enemy have I become, being true to you?

¹⁷they are zealous for you -- [yet] not well, but they wish to shut us out, that for them ye may be zealous;

¹⁸and [it is] good to be zealously regarded, in what is good, at all times, and not only in my being present with you;

¹⁹my little children, of whom again I travail in birth, till Christ may be formed in you,

²⁰and I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.

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Galatians 4:12-20

New American Standard Bible

¹²I beg of you, ^(A)brothers and sisters, ^(B)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; ¹³but you know that it was because of a ^[a]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the ^[b]first time; ¹⁴and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my ^[c]bodily condition, nor express contempt, but ^(C)you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵Where then is ^[d]that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶So have I become your enemy ^(D)by ^[e]telling you the truth? ¹⁷They eagerly seek you, not ^[f]in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. ¹⁸But it is good always to be eagerly sought ^[g]in a commendable way, and ^(E)not only when I am present with you. ¹⁹^(F)My children, with whom ^(G)I am again in labor until ^(H)Christ is formed in you— ²⁰but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for ^(I)I am at a loss about you!