And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

I gave you milk to drink, and not solid food; for you were not yet able [to receive it]. Indeed, neither are you now yet able;

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child; but when I became a man, I put away the things of the child.

I have more understanding than all my teachers; for Your testimonies are my meditation.

the spirit of the fear of God. He shall not judge according to appearance, nor reprove according to report;

For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I rejoice on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent to what is evil.

that we may no longer be infants, being tossed as by waves, and being carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in regard to deceitful scheming,

but speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ;

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all perception,

For indeed, although you ought to be teachers by this time, again you have need [for someone] to teach you what are the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

For everyone who partakes of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

Therefore, leaving the subject of the beginning of Christ, let us be moved to perfection, not again laying down a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

And let us do this if indeed God permits.

but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

A Song of Degrees. O Lord, my heart is not exalted, neither have my eyes been [haughtily] raised: neither have I exercised myself in great [matters], nor in things too wonderful for me.

[I shall have sinned] if I have not been humble, but have exalted my soul; according to [the relation of] a weaned child to his mother, so will You recompense my soul.

At that time Jesus answered and said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes.

and said, "Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

as newborn babes, desire the genuine milk of the word, that by it you may grow,

I have more understanding than all my teachers; for Your testimonies are my meditation.

However, we speak wisdom among those that are perfect, but not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are being destroyed.

Therefore, as many as are mature, let us think this way; and if in anything you think otherwise, even this God will reveal to you.