²⁰ Brethren, become not children in the understanding, but in the evil be ye babes, and in the understanding become ye perfect;

¹⁹ for your obedience did reach to all; I rejoice, therefore, as regards you, and I wish you to be wise, indeed, as to the good, and harmless as to the evil;

² as new-born babes the word's pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow,

¹² for even owing to be teachers, because of the time, again ye have need that one teach you what `are' the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God, and ye have become having need of milk, and not of strong food,

¹³ for every one who is partaking of milk `is' unskilled in the word of righteousness -- for he is an infant,

³ and said, `Verily I say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not enter into the reign of the heavens;

⁹⁹ Above all my teachers I have acted wisely. For Thy testimonies `are' my meditation.

¹⁸ and increase ye in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; to him `is' the glory both now, and to the day of the age! Amen.

¹⁵ As many, therefore, as `are' perfect -- let us think this, and if `in' anything ye think otherwise, this also shall God reveal to you,

⁶ And wisdom we speak among the perfect, and wisdom not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age -- of those becoming useless,

¹ Wherefore, having left the word of the beginning of the Christ, unto the perfection we may advance, not again a foundation laying of reformation from dead works, and of faith on God,

² of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on also of hands, of rising again also of the dead, and of judgment age-during,

³ and this we will do, if God may permit,

⁹ and this I pray, that your love yet more and more may abound in full knowledge, and all judgment,

¹⁴ that we may no more be babes, tossed and borne about by every wind of the teaching, in the sleight of men, in craftiness, unto the artifice of leading astray,

¹⁵ and, being true in love, we may increase to Him `in' all things, who is the head -- the Christ;

¹¹ When I was a babe, as a babe I was speaking, as a babe I was thinking, as a babe I was reasoning, and when I have become a man, I have made useless the things of the babe;

¹ And I, brethren, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly -- as to babes in Christ;

² with milk I fed you, and not with meat, for ye were not yet able, but not even yet are ye now able,

¹⁵ verily I say to you, whoever may not receive the reign of God, as a child -- he may not enter into it;'

⁴ And he answering said to them, `Did ye not read, that He who made `them', from the beginning a male and a female made them,

²⁵ At that time Jesus answering said, `I do confess to Thee, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, that thou didst hide these things from wise and understanding ones, and didst reveal them to babes.

³ To refresh him in the fear of Jehovah, And by the sight of his eyes he judgeth not, Nor by the hearing of his ears decideth.

¹ A Song of the Ascents, by David. Jehovah, my heart hath not been haughty, Nor have mine eyes been high, Nor have I walked in great things, And in things too wonderful for me.

² Have I not compared, and kept silent my soul, As a weaned one by its mother? As a weaned one by me `is' my soul.