Galatians 4:9-20

9Now, however, since you have come to know [the true] God [through personal experience], or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elemental principles [of religions and philosophies], to which you want to be enslaved all over again?

10[For example,] you observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years.

11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [to the point of exhaustion] over you in vain.

12Believers, I beg of you, become as I am [free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances], for I have become as you are [a Gentile]. You did me no wrong [when I first came to you; do not do it now].

13On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I [remained and] preached the gospel to you the first time;

14and even though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus Himself.

15What then has become of that sense of blessing and the joy that you once had [from your salvation and your relationship with Christ]? For I testify of you that, if possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me [to replace mine].

16So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17These men [the Judaizers] eagerly seek you [to entrap you with honeyed words and attention, to win you over to their philosophy], not honorably [for their purpose is not honorable or worthy of consideration]. They want to isolate you [from us who oppose them] so that you will seek them.

18Now it is always pleasant to be eagerly sought after [provided that it is] for a good purpose, and not just when I am with you [seeking you myself—but beware of the others doing it].

19My little children, for whom I am again in [the pains of] labor until Christ is [completely and permanently] formed within you—

20how I wish that I were with you now and could change my tone, because I am perplexed in regard to you.