Galatians 4:4-20

New American Standard Bible

⁴ But when ^(A)the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, ^(B)born of a woman, born ^(C)under ^[a]the Law, ⁵ so that He might redeem those who were under ^[b]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^(D)sons and daughters. ⁶ Because you are sons, ^(E)God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “^(F)Abba! ^[c]Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^(G)if a son, then an heir ^[d]through God.

⁸ However at that time, ^(H)when you did not know God, you were ^(I)slaves to ^(J)those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be ^(K)known by God, ^(L)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^[e](M)elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ You ^(N)meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ^[f]over you in vain.

¹² I beg of you, ^(O)brothers and sisters, ^(P)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 ^[g]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the ^[h]first time; ¹⁴ and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my ^[i]bodily condition, nor express contempt, but ^(Q)you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵ Where then is ^[j]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 ^(R)by ^[k]telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They eagerly seek you, not ^[l]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 ^[m]in a commendable way, and ^(S)not only when I am present with you. ^19 (T)My children, with whom ^(U)I am again in labor until ^(V)Christ is formed in you— ²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for ^(W)I am at a loss about you!