1 Timothy 5
1 You should not rebuke an old man, but rather plead with him, as if he were your father; with young men, like brothers;
Do not scold an older man. Instead, exhort him as if he were a father. Exhort younger men as if they were brothers.
2 with old women, like mothers; with young women, in all chastity, like sisters.
Exhort older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters in all purity.
3 Honor those widows who are true widows.
Honor widows, the real widows.
4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let her first learn to manage her own household, and to fulfill, in turn, her own obligation to her parents; for this is acceptable before God.
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show honor in their own household. Let them repay their parents, because this is pleasing to God.
5 But she who is truly a widow and is destitute, let her hope in God, and let her be urgent in supplications and prayers, night and day.
But a real widow is left all alone. She puts her certain hope in God. She always remains with requests and prayers both night and day.
6 For she who is living in pleasures is dead, while living.
However, the woman who lives for pleasure is dead, even though she is still alive.
7 And give instruction in this, so that they may be beyond reproach.
Give these instructions as well, so that they may be blameless.
8 But if anyone has no concern for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and he is worse than an unbeliever.
But if someone does not provide for his own relatives, especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let a widow be chosen who is no less than sixty years of age, who was the wife of one husband,
Let a woman be enrolled as a widow who is not younger than sixty, a wife of one husband.
10 who has testimony of her good works: whether she has educated children, or has provided hospitality, or has washed the feet of the saints, or has ministered to those suffering tribulation, or has pursued any kind of good work.
She must be known for good deeds, whether it is that she has cared for children, or has been hospitable to strangers, or has washed the feet of the saints, or has relieved the afflicted, or has been devoted to every good work.
11 But avoid the younger widows. For once they have flourished in Christ, they will want to marry,
But as for younger widows, refuse to enroll them in the list. For when they give in to bodily desires against Christ, they want to marry.
12 resulting in damnation, because they have disregarded the primacy of faith.
In this way they incur guilt because they revoke their first commitment.
13 And being at the same time also idle, they learn to go from house to house, being not only idle, but also talkative and curious, speaking of things which do not concern them.
At the same time, they also learn to be lazy and they go around from house to house. They not only become lazy, but they also talk nonsense and are busybodies, saying things they should not say.
14 Therefore, I want the younger women to marry, to procreate children, to be mothers of families, to provide no ready opportunity for the adversary to speak evil.
I therefore want younger women to marry, to bear children, to manage the household, and to give no opportunity for the enemy to slander us.
15 For certain ones have already been turned back to Satan.
For some have already turned aside after Satan.
16 If any among the faithful have widows, let him minister to them and not burden the Church, so that there may be enough for those who are true widows.
If any believing woman has widows, let her help them, so that the church will not be weighed down, so that it might help the real widows.
17 Let priests who lead well be held worthy of twice the honor, especially those who labor in the Word and in doctrine.
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work with the word and in teaching.
18 For Scripture says: “You shall not muzzle an ox as it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his pay.”
For the scripture says, “You shall not put a muzzle on an ox while it treads the grain” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
19 Do not be willing to accept an accusation against a priest, except under two or three witnesses.
Do not receive an accusation against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses.
20 Reprove sinners in the sight of everyone, so that the others may have fear.
Correct sinners before all so that the rest may be afraid.
21 I testify before God and Christ Jesus and the elect Angels, that you should observe these things without prejudgment, doing nothing which shows favoritism to either side.
I solemnly command you before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels, to keep these commands without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
22 You should not be quick to impose hands on anyone, nor should you take part in the sins of outsiders. Keep yourself chaste.
Place hands hastily on no one. Do not share in the sins of another person. You should keep yourself pure.
23 Do not continue to drink only water, but make use of a little wine, for the sake of your stomach and your frequent infirmities.
You should no longer drink water. Instead, you should take a little wine for the stomach and your frequent sicknesses.
24 The sins of some men have been made manifest, preceding them to judgment, but those of others are manifested later.
The sins of some people are openly known, and they go before them into judgment. But some sins follow later.
25 Similarly, too, good deeds have been made manifest, but even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.
Likewise, some good works are openly known, but even the others cannot be hidden.
