1 Timothy 5
1 Do not rebuke/scold older men. Instead, exhort/advise them [respectfully] as you would [exhort/advise] your father. Exhort/advise younger men [gently] as you would exhort/advise your brothers.
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2 [Exhort/advise] older women [respectfully] as [you would exhort/advise] your mother. [Exhort/advise] younger women [gently] as [you would exhort/advise] your sisters; but you must act in a completely proper way as you do that.
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3 [Make sure that the congregation] takes care of widows who have no one to care for them.
Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 If a widow has children or grandchildren, these [children or grandchildren] should learn that they are to take care of their own family first. By doing that they can repay their parents and grandparents for all that they did for them when they were young, because doing that pleases God.
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 The widows who are really alone and have no one [to help them] confidently expect that God [will help them]. So night and day they pray, earnestly asking [DOU] [God that he will help them and others].
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But widows who just want to have a lot of pleasure are [spiritually] [MET] dead, although they are [physically] alive.
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7 And tell [the congregation] that [the children or grandchildren should do] these things in order that [no one] can (criticize the believers/say that the believers are doing anything that is wrong).
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8 If anyone does not take care of those who live in his own house, and especially if he does not take care of his own family, he has (denied/quit believing) what we believe and [we should consider that] he is worse than a person who does not believe [in Christ].
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9 [You have a list of] widows [who will do work for the congregation and receive money]. Put women’s names on the list [only if] they are more than 60 years old, and if they were faithful to their husbands.
Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
10 [Put women’s names on that list only] if it is known that they have wholeheartedly done every kind of good deed, if they have helped [children] who were afflicted/suffering, if they have (brought up/cared for) their children [properly/well], if they have welcomed and cared for guests, and if they have humbly served [MTY] other believers.
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
11 As for younger widows, do not put their names on that list, because they [promise to do work for the congregation, but instead of doing that, they usually] want to marry [again] (OR, marry an unbeliever) when they have a strong desire to get married.
But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12 If that happens, they may become guilty of not having done what they had promised [to do for the congregation] (OR, promised [Christ that they would do].)
Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13 In addition, they [generally] become lazy. Specifically, as they [just] go about from house to house, they also begin (to gossip/to talk about people) and to meddle in other people’s affairs, saying what they should not say.
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14 So I advise that [instead of putting the names of younger widows on the list, they] marry again, that they bear/have children, that they manage their homes [well], and that they do nothing for which an enemy can say bad things about [them].
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15 [I say this] because some [younger widows] have stopped [obeying Christ] in order to obey Satan.
For some are already turned aside after Satan.
16 If any woman who believes [in Christ] has widows [in her household/family], she should take care of them. The congregation should not be burdened by having {She should not depend on the congregation} to take care of their [needs]. The congregation should take care of the widows who truly [have no one to care for them].
If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the Assembly be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
17 [Each congregation] should pay well the elders who lead [well. They should] greatly honor them, especially those who preach and those who teach.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18 [Long ago Moses] wrote in the Scriptures, “While an ox is threshing [grain], you must not tie its mouth [so that it cannot eat the grain],” and [Jesus said], “[People] should pay those who work [for their benefit].” [So we know that congregations should support their leaders].
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the grain. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19 When some person accuses an elder [about doing wrong], accept what he says only if there are [at least] two or three persons who (testify/say [that]) [they saw him do that wrong].
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20 But as for any [elder] who repeatedly sins, rebuke him before the whole congregation, in order that the rest [of the elders] will be afraid [to sin].
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
21 I solemnly tell you that [as you keep in mind that] God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels know everything that you do, obey these commands [about elders]! [As you consider what others say about an elder doing wrong], do not easily/quickly decide that what they say is true. And treat them all equally.
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
22 Do not be in a hurry to put your hands on a man ([to set him apart/to appoint him]) [as an elder. Wait until you have examined him to see how he conducts his life], because [God will consider] that you are responsible if [you approve] a person who sins, saying that he should [become an elder]. Keep your life pure in every way.
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
23 [And Timothy], no longer drink [only] water, but instead, drink a little wine [also], because [that may help to cure] your stomach’s frequent illnesses.
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
24 [I tell you not] ([to set apart/appoint]) [elders hastily, without seeing how they conduct their lives, because] some people [sin secretly], so that it is not known what they have done until after someone examines them (OR, before God judges them). But some people sin openly, so that people know what they have done before anyone examines them.
Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
25 Similarly, although [some people] do good things openly, with the result that people know what they have done, some people [do good things secretly], yet the good things that they have done cannot remain secret either.
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
