< 1 Timothy 5 >
1 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;
REBUKE not harshly an aged man, but admonish him as a father; the younger men as brethren;
2 the elder women too as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, with perfect modesty.
the aged women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3 Honour widows who are really in need.
Honour the widows, that are widows indeed.
4 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.
But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn as their first duty to shew their piety towards their own family, and make a grateful return to their progenitors: for this is becoming and acceptable before God.
5 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;
But she who is a widow indeed, and abandoned to solitude, hopeth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 but a pleasure-loving widow is dead even while still alive.
But she who lives voluptuously is dead, though she liveth.
7 Press these facts upon them, so that they may live lives free from reproach.
And these things inculcate, that they may be blameless.
8 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.
But if any man provide not for his own relations, and especially for those more immediately of his own family, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9 No widow is to be put on the roll who is under sixty years of age.
Let no widow be put on the list under sixty years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband,
10 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.
bringing attestation of her good works; that she hath well educated her children, that she hath been hospitable to strangers, that she hath washed the saints feet, that she hath assisted the afflicted, that she hath followed diligently every good work.
11 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,
But the younger widows reject: for when they give themselves to wantonness contrary to Christ, they will marry;
12 and they incur disapproval for having broken their original vow.
incurring censure, for having violated their former engagement.
13 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.
And at the same time also they learn to be idle, visiting about in the houses; and not merely idle, but talkative and inquisitive, speaking things they ought not.
14 I would therefore have the younger women marry, bear children, rule in domestic matters, and furnish the Adversary with no excuse for slander.
I would therefore have the younger widows to marry, bear children, govern their house, give no occasion to the adversary to bring a reproach on them.
15 For already some of them have gone astray, following Satan.
For some are already turned aside after Satan.
16 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.
But if any man or woman who believes hath widows their relations, let him provide for them, and let not the church be burdened; that there may be a sufficiency for the real widows.
17 Let the Elders who perform their duties wisely and well be held worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching.
Let the elders who preside properly be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who are laborious in preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, "You are not to muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain;" and the workman deserves his pay.
For the Scripture saith, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox while he treadeth out the corn.” And again, “The labourer is worthy of his hire.”
19 Never entertain an accusation against an Elder except on the evidence of two of three witnesses.
Against a presbyter receive not an accusation, except it be from two or three witnesses.
20 Those who persist in sin reprove in the presence of all, so that it may also be a warning to the rest.
Those who sin rebuke before all, that the rest also may tremble.
21 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.
I adjure thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
22 Do not ordain any one hastily; and do not be a partaker in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
Lay hands hastily on no man, nor share another’s sins: keep thyself pure;
23 (No longer be a water-drinker; but take a little wine for the sake of your digestion and your frequent ailments.)
confine thyself no longer to water-drinking; but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thy frequent indispositions.
24 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.
Some men’s sins are glaringly manifest, going before to judgment; and after others also they follow to detection.
25 So also the right actions of some are evident to the world, and those that are not cannot remain for ever out of sight.
In like manner also the good works of some are previously manifest; and it is not possible that what they have besides should be concealed.