1 Timothy 5
1 Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
Never administer a sharp reprimand to a man older than yourself; but entreat him as if he were your father, and the younger men as brothers;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
the elder women too as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, with perfect modesty.
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
Honour widows who are really in need.
4 But if any widow hath children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to repay their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn first to show piety towards their own homes and to prove their gratitude to their parents; for this is well pleasing in the sight of God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
A widow who is really in need, friendless and desolate, has her hopes fixed on God, and continues at her supplications and prayers, night and day;
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
but a pleasure-loving widow is dead even while still alive.
7 And these things command, that they may be blameless.
Press these facts upon them, so that they may live lives free from reproach.
8 But if any provideth not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
But if a man makes no provision for those dependent on him, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is behaving worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
No widow is to be put on the roll who is under sixty years of age.
10 Well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath lodged strangers, if she hath washed the saints’ feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work.
She must have been true to her one husband, and well reported of for good deeds, as having brought up children, received strangers hospitably, washed the feet of God's people, given relief to the distressed, and devoted herself to good works of every kind.
11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they will marry;
But the younger widows you must not enrol; for as soon as they begin to chafe against the yoke of Christ, they want to marry,
12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
and they incur disapproval for having broken their original vow.
13 And at the same time 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.
And at the same time they also learn to be idle as they go round from house to house; and they are not only idle, but are gossips also and busybodies, speaking of things that ought not to be spoken of.
14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, rule the house, give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
I would therefore have the younger women marry, bear children, rule in domestic matters, and furnish the Adversary with no excuse for slander.
15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
For already some of them have gone astray, following Satan.
16 If any man or woman that believeth hath widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
If a believing woman has widows dependent on her, she should relieve their wants, and save the Church from being burdened--so that the Church may relieve the widows who are really in need.
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Let the Elders who perform their duties wisely and well be held worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching.
18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the grain. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
For the Scripture says, "You are not to muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain;" and the workman deserves his pay.
19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
Never entertain an accusation against an Elder except on the evidence of two of three witnesses.
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Those who persist in sin reprove in the presence of all, so that it may also be a warning to the rest.
21 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.
I solemnly call upon you, in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, to carry out these instructions of mine without prejudice, and to do nothing from partiality.
22 Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
Do not ordain any one hastily; and do not be a partaker in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thy frequent infirmities.
(No longer be a water-drinker; but take a little wine for the sake of your digestion and your frequent ailments.)
24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
The sins of some men are evident to the world, leading the way to your estimate of their characters, but the sins of others lag behind.
25 Likewise also the good works of some are clearly evident beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
So also the right actions of some are evident to the world, and those that are not cannot remain for ever out of sight.
