Galatians 4:7-17
New American Standard Bible
8However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are not gods.
9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
10You meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years.
11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
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.
King James Version
Chapter 4
7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
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.
Christian Standard Bible
8But in the past, since you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.
9But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
10You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years.
11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
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.
New Living Translation
8Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.
9So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?
10You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.
11I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.
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?
English Standard Version
8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
10You observe days and months and seasons and years!
11I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
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.
New International Version
8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
9But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces ? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
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?
New King James Version
Chapter 4
7Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
9But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
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?
