NET Bible
"They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly."
— Galatians 4:17, NET Bible
“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.”
“They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them. ”
“They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.”
“They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.”
“Their interest in you is not good; but their desire is that you may be shut out, so that you may go after them.”
“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.”
and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself!
Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!
So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.
However, it is good to be sought eagerly for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
My children– I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!
I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, because I am perplexed about you.