1 Timothy 5
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
Do not say sharp words to one who has authority in the church, but let your talk be as to a father, and to the younger men as to brothers:
2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
To the older women as to mothers, to the younger as to sisters, with a clean heart.
3 Honor the widows who are truly widows.
Give honour to widows who are truly widows.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
But if any widow has children or children's children, let these see that it is right to take care of their family and their fathers and mothers: for this is pleasing in the eyes of God.
5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
Now she who is truly a widow and without family puts her hope in God, giving herself to prayer day and night.
6 But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she is living.
7 Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
Give orders to this effect, so that no evil may be said of anyone.
8 If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
If anyone has no care for his family and those in his house, he is false to the faith, and is worse than one who has no faith.
9 A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,
Let no woman be numbered among the widows who is under sixty years old, and only if she has been the wife of one man,
10 and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
And if witness is given of her good works; if she has had the care of children, if she has been kind to travellers, washing the feet of the saints, helping those who are in trouble, giving herself to good works.
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
But to the younger widows say No: for when their love is turned away from Christ, they have a desire to be married;
12 and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.
And they are judged because they have been false to their first faith;
13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
And they get into the way of doing no work, going about from house to house; and not only doing no work, but talking foolishly, being over-interested in the business of others, saying things which they have no right to say.
14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
So it is my desire that the younger widows may be married and have children, controlling their families, and giving the Evil One no chance to say anything against them,
15 For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
For even now some are turned away to Satan.
16 If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.
If any woman of the faith has relations who are widows, let her give them help, so that the care of them does not come on the church, and so it may give help to those who are truly widowed.
17 Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
Let rulers whose rule is good be honoured twice over, specially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
For the Writings say, It is not right to keep the ox from taking the grain when he is crushing it. And, The worker has a right to his reward.
19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Do not take as true any statement made against one in authority, but only if two or three give witness to it.
20 But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
Say sharp words to sinners when all are present, so that the rest may be in fear.
21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.
I give you orders before God and Christ Jesus and the angels of God's selection, to keep these orders without giving thought to one side more than another.
22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Do not put hands on any man without thought, and have no part in other men's sins: keep yourself clean.
23 Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
Do not take only water as your drink, but take a little wine for the good of your stomach, and because you are frequently ill.
24 The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.
The sins of some men are clearly seen, going before them to be judged; but with others, their sins go after them.
25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.
In the same way, there are good works which are clearly seen; and those which are not so, may not be kept secret.
