^20–25To be perfectly frank, I’m getting exasperated with your infantile thinking. How long before you grow up and use your head—your adult head? It’s all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with evil; a simple no is all that’s needed there. But there’s far more to saying yes to something. Only mature and well-exercised intelligence can save you from falling into gullibility.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

NLTNew Living Translation

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Brothers, do not become children in your understanding, but with respect to wickedness be as a child, and in your understanding be mature.

KJV 1900King James Version

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

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