New King James Version NKJV
New International Version NIV
12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.
12
I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.
13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
13
As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,
14 And 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.
14
and 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.
15 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.
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Where, 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.
16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
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Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
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Those 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.
18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
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It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.
19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
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My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
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how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.