¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I ·stopped [set aside] those childish ways.

³ It is the same for us. We were once like children, slaves to the ·useless rules [or spiritual forces; or elementary principles/powers] of this world.

⁹ But now you know the true God. Really, it is God who knows you. So ·why do [^Lhow can] you turn back to those weak and ·useless [bankrupt; ^Lpoor] ·rules [or spiritual forces; or elementary principles/powers; v. 3] you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to those things again?