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Formerly, when you 1did not know God, you 2were enslaved to those that by nature 3are not gods.
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But now that you have come to know God, or rather 4to be known by God, 5how can you turn back again to 6the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
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7You observe days and months and seasons and years!
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I am afraid 8I may have labored over you in vain.
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Brothers,9I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. 10You did me no wrong.
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You know it was 11because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you 12at first,
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and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me 13as an angel of God, 14as Christ Jesus.
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What then has become of the blessing you felt? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.
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Have I then become your enemy by 15telling you the truth?
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They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
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It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and 16not only when I am present with you,
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17my little children, 18for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ 19is formed in you!
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I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.