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 infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake 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 zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

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12 I 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; 13 but you know that it was because of a [a]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the [b]first time; 14 and 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. 15 Where 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. 16 So have I become your enemy (D)by [e]telling you the truth? 17 They eagerly seek you, not [f]in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But 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— 20 but 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!

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:13 Lit weakness of the flesh
  2. Galatians 4:13 Or former
  3. Galatians 4:14 Lit flesh
  4. Galatians 4:15 I.e., considering yourselves fortunate
  5. Galatians 4:16 Or dealing truthfully with you
  6. Galatians 4:17 Or with good intentions
  7. Galatians 4:18 Or with good intentions