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.
Blame thou not an eldere man, but biseche as a fadir, yonge men as britheren; elde wymmen as modris,
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.
yonge wymmen as sistris, in al chastite.
3 [Make sure that the congregation] takes care of widows who have no one to care for them.
Honoure thou widewis, that ben very widewis.
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 ony widewe hath children of sones, lerne sche first to gouerne her hous, and quyte to fadir and modir; for this thing is acceptid bifor 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].
And sche that is a widewe verili, and desolate, hope in to God, and be bisy in bisechingis and preieris niyt and dai.
6 But widows who just want to have a lot of pleasure are [spiritually] [MET] dead, although they are [physically] alive.
For sche that is lyuynge in delicis, is deed.
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 comaunde thou this thing, that thei be withouten repreef.
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].
For if ony man hath not cure of his owne, and most of hise household men, he hath denyed the feith, and is worse than an vnfeithful man.
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.
A widewe be chosun not lesse than sixti yeer, that was wijf of oon hosebonde,
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.
and hath witnessing in good werkis, if sche nurschede children, if sche resseyuede pore men to herbore, if sche hath waischun the feet of hooli men, if sche mynystride to men that suffriden tribulacioun, if sche folewide al good werk.
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 eschewe thou yongere widewis; for whanne thei han do letcherie, thei wolen be weddid in Crist,
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].)
hauynge dampnacioun, for thei han maad voide the firste feith.
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.
Also thei idil lernen to go aboute housis, not oneli ydel, but ful of wordis and curiouse, spekynge thingis that bihoueth 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].
Therfor Y wole, that yongere widewis be weddid, and bringe forth children, and ben hosewyues, to yyue noon occasioun to the aduersarie, bi cause of cursid thing.
15 [I say this] because some [younger widows] have stopped [obeying Christ] in order to obey Satan.
For now summe ben turned abak aftir Sathanas.
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 ony feithful man hath widewis, mynystre he to hem, that the chirche be not greuyd, that it suffice to hem that ben very widewis.
17 [Each congregation] should pay well the elders who lead [well. They should] greatly honor them, especially those who preach and those who teach.
The prestis that ben wel gouernoures, be thei had worthi to double onour; moost thei that trauelen in word and teching.
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 scripture seith, Thou schalt not bridil the mouth of the oxe threischinge, and, A werk man is worthi his hire.
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].
Nyle thou resseyue accusyng ayens a preest, but vndur tweyne or thre witnessis.
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].
But reproue thou men that synnen bifor alle men, that also othere haue drede.
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.
Y preie bifor God, and Jhesu Crist, and hise chosun aungelis, that thou kepe these thingis with oute preiudice, and do no thing in bowynge `in to the othere side.
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.
Put thou hondis to no man, nether anoon comyne thou with othere mennus synnes. Kepe thi silf chast.
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.
Nyle thou yit drinke watir, but vse a litil wyn, for thi stomac, and `for thin ofte fallynge infirmytees.
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.
Sum mennus synnes ben opyn, bifor goynge to dom; but of summen thei comen aftir.
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.
And also goode dedis ben opyn, and tho that han hem in othere maner, moun not be hid.
