Galatians 4:11-22
New American Standard Bible
12I beg of you, brothers and sisters, 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 bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;
14and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition, nor express contempt, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
15Where then is 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 by telling you the truth?
17They eagerly seek you, not 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 in a commendable way, and not only when I am present with you.
19My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—
20but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for I am at a loss about you!
King James Version
12Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15Where 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.
16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Christian Standard Bible
12I beg you, brothers and sisters: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me;
13you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh.
14You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.
15Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16So then, have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?
17They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them.
18But it is always good to be pursued in a good manner—and not just when I am with you.
19My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you.
20I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.
New Living Translation
12Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles — free from those laws. You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you.
13Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News.
14But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself.
15Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.
16Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?
17Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.
18If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you.
English Standard Version
12Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
13You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,
14and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
15What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.
16Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
18It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,
19my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
20I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
New International Version
12I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.
13As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,
14and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.
15Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.
18It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.
19My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
New King James Version
12Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.
13You know that 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 as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15What 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 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.
19My 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.
