But solidfoodis for the mature,who becauseof practicehavetheir sensestrainedto discerngoodand evil.
"For Godknowsthat in the dayyou eatfrom it your eyeswill be opened,and you will be like God,knowinggoodand evil."
"Then your maidservantsaid,'Pleaselet the wordof my lordthe kingbe comforting,for as the angelof God,sois my lordthe kingto discerngoodand evil.And may the LORDyour Godbe with you.'"
Godsaidto him, "Becauseyou have askedthisthingand have not askedfor yourself longlife,norhave askedrichesfor yourself, norhave you askedfor the lifeof your enemies,but have askedfor yourself discernmentto understandjustice,
"So giveYour servantan understandingheartto judgeYour peopleto discernbetweengoodand evil.For whois ableto judgethisgreatpeopleof Yours?"
"Does not the eartestwords,As the palatetastesits food?
"For the eartestswordsAs the palatetastesfood.
"Is thereinjusticeon my tongue?Cannotmy palatediscerncalamities?
Howsweetare Your wordsto my taste![Yes, sweeter] thanhoneyto my mouth!
"Your oilshave a pleasingfragrance,Your nameis [like] purifiedoil;Thereforethe maidensloveyou.
"Like an appletreeamong the treesof the forest,Sois my belovedamongthe youngmen.In his shadeI tookgreat delightand satdown,And his fruitwas sweetto my taste.
"He will eatcurdsand honeyat the time He knows[enough] to refuseeviland choosegood.
"Thereforeyou are to be perfect,as your heavenlyFatheris perfect.
Nowacceptthe one who is weakin faith,[but] not for [the purpose of] passing judgmenton his opinions.
Yetwe do speakwisdomamongthosewho are mature;a wisdom,however,not of thisagenorof the rulersof thisage,who are passing away;
[I pray that] the eyesof your heartmay be enlightened,sothat you will knowwhatis the hopeof His calling,whatare the richesof the gloryof His inheritancein the saints,
untilwe allattainto the unityof the faith,and of the knowledgeof the Sonof God,to a matureman,to the measureof the staturewhich belongs to the fullnessof Christ.
Let us therefore,as manyas are perfect,havethisattitude;and ifin anythingyou havea differentattitude,Godwill revealthat alsoto you;
But examineeverything[carefully]; hold fastto that which is good;
But have nothing to dowith worldlyfablesfit only for old women.On the otherhand,disciplineyourselffor the purpose of godliness;
Thereforeleavingthe elementaryteachingabout the Christ,let us presson to maturity,not layingagaina foundationof repentancefrom deadworksand of faithtowardGod,
For we allstumblein many[ways]. Ifanyonedoes not stumblein what he says,he is a perfectman,ableto bridlethe wholebodyas well.
