Galatians 4:12-20

New Century Version

¹² Brothers and sisters, I became like you, so I beg you to become like me. You were very good to me before. ¹³ You remember that it was because of an illness that I came to you the first time, preaching the Good News. ¹⁴ Though my sickness was a trouble for you, you did not hate me or make me leave. But you welcomed me as an angel from God, as if I were Jesus Christ himself! ¹⁵ You were very happy then, but where is that joy now? I am ready to testify that you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me if that were possible. ¹⁶ Now am I your enemy because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷ Those people^[a] are working hard to persuade you, but this is not good for you. They want to persuade you to turn against us and follow only them. ¹⁸ It is good for people to show interest in you, but only if their purpose is good. This is always true, not just when I am with you. ¹⁹ My little children, again I feel the pain of childbirth for you until you truly become like Christ. ²⁰ I wish I could be with you now and could change the way I am talking to you, because I do not know what to think about you.