Galatians 4:12-20

New International Version

¹²I plead with you, brothers and sisters,^(A) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. ¹³As you know, it was because of an illness^(B) 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.^(C) 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?^(D)

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.^(E) ¹⁸It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.^(F) ¹⁹My dear children,^(G) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,^(H) ²⁰how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

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Galatians 4:12-20

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.

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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.