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!

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Footnotes

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

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.