1 Timothy 5
1 Do not reprimand an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat the young men as brothers,
Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;
2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters — with all purity.
the older women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.
3 Show consideration for widows — I mean those who are really widowed.
Honor widows who are widows indeed.
4 but, if a widow has children or grand-children, let them learn to show proper regard for the members of their own family first, and to make some return to their parents; for that is pleasing in God’s sight.
But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
5 As for the woman who is really widowed and left quite alone, her hopes are fixed on God, and she devotes herself to prayers and supplications night and day.
Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
6 But the life of a widow who is devoted to pleasure is a living death.
But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
7 Those are the points on which you should dwell, that there may be no call for your censure.
Also command these things, so that they will be without fault.
8 Any one who fails to provide for his own relations, and especially for those under his own roof, has disowned the Faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 A widow, when her name is added to the list, should not be less than sixty years old; she should have been a faithful wife,
Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
10 and be well spoken of for her kind actions. She should have brought up children, have shown hospitality to strangers, have washed the feet of her fellow Christians, have relieved those who were in distress, and devoted herself to every kind of good action.
being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
11 But you should exclude the younger widows from the list; for, when they grow restive under the yoke of the Christ, they want to marry,
But refuse younger widows, for whenever their passions lead them away from Christ, they desire to marry;
12 and so they bring condemnation upon themselves for having broken their previous promise.
having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.
13 And not only that, but they learn to be idle as they go about from house to house. Nor are they merely idle, but they also become gossips and busy-bodies, and talk of what they ought not.
Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
14 Therefore I advise young widows to marry, bear children, and attend to their homes, and so avoid giving the enemy an opportunity for scandal.
I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for reviling.
15 There are some who have already left us, to follow Satan.
For already some have turned aside after Satan.
16 Any Christian woman, who has relations who are widows, ought to relieve them and not allow them to become a burden to the Church, so that the Church may relieve those widows who are really widowed.
If any believing woman has widows, let her assist them, and do not let the church be burdened; that it might help those widows who are truly in need.
17 Those Officers of the Church who fill their office well should be held deserving of especial consideration, particularly those whose work lies in preaching and teaching.
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
18 The words of Scripture are — ‘Thou shalt not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain.’ and again — ‘The worker is worth his wages.’
For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain." And, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
19 Do not receive a charge against an Officer of the Church, unless it is supported by two or three witnesses;
Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.
20 but rebuke offenders publicly, so that others may take warning.
Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
21 I charge you solemnly, before God and Christ Jesus and the Chosen Angels, to carry out these directions, unswayed by prejudice, never acting with partiality.
I command you in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
22 Never ordain any one hastily, and take no part in the wrong-doing of others. Keep your life pure.
Do not ordain anyone hastily, nor participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Do not continue to drink water only, but take a little wine on account of the weakness of your stomach, and your frequent ailments.
Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.
24 There are some men whose sins are conspicuous and lead on to judgment, while there are others whose sins dog their steps.
The sins of some people are obvious, going before them to judgment, but those of others show up later.
25 In the same way noble deeds become conspicuous, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.
In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.
