< 1 Timothy 5 >

1 Blame thou not an eldere man, but biseche as a fadir, yonge men as britheren; elde wymmen as modris,
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
2 yonge wymmen as sistris, in al chastite.
older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
3 Honoure thou widewis, that ben very widewis.
Give financial support to widows who are really ‘widows’.
4 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.
But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to demonstrate piety in their own household by repaying their parents, for this is pleasing to God.
5 And sche that is a widewe verili, and desolate, hope in to God, and be bisy in bisechingis and preieris niyt and dai.
Now she who is really a widow and desolate has set her hope on God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 For sche that is lyuynge in delicis, is deed.
But she who indulges in pleasure is dead while she lives.
7 And comaunde thou this thing, that thei be withouten repreef.
You should even command these things, so that they may be blameless.
8 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.
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 A widewe be chosun not lesse than sixti yeer, that was wijf of oon hosebonde,
No widow should be enrolled unless she is at least sixty, a one man wife,
10 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.
known for good works—she brought up children, she lodged strangers, she washed saints' feet, she relieved the afflicted, she devoted herself to every good work.
11 But eschewe thou yongere widewis; for whanne thei han do letcherie, thei wolen be weddid in Crist,
As for younger widows, do not enroll them; because whenever they are controlled by sensual desires rather than by Christ, they want to marry,
12 hauynge dampnacioun, for thei han maad voide the firste feith.
coming under judgment because they have broken their first commitment.
13 Also thei idil lernen to go aboute housis, not oneli ydel, but ful of wordis and curiouse, spekynge thingis that bihoueth not.
Not only that, they learn to be idle, going around from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
14 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.
So I want the younger widows to marry, to bear children, to manage the home, to give the adversary no occasion for caustic comments.
15 For now summe ben turned abak aftir Sathanas.
(In fact, some have already turned aside after Satan.)
16 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.
If any man or woman who is a believer has widows, let them relieve them and not burden the congregation, so that it may relieve those who are widows indeed.
17 The prestis that ben wel gouernoures, be thei had worthi to double onour; moost thei that trauelen in word and teching.
Let the elders who lead well be counted worthy of a double honorarium, especially those who labor in word and teaching.
18 For scripture seith, Thou schalt not bridil the mouth of the oxe threischinge, and, A werk man is worthi his hire.
For the Scripture says: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain,” and “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
19 Nyle thou resseyue accusyng ayens a preest, but vndur tweyne or thre witnessis.
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
20 But reproue thou men that synnen bifor alle men, that also othere haue drede.
Those who are sinning rebuke publicly, so that the rest also may be in fear.
21 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.
I charge you in the presence of God and Sovereign Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudgment, doing nothing by partiality.
22 Put thou hondis to no man, nether anoon comyne thou with othere mennus synnes. Kepe thi silf chast.
Do not lay hands [in ordination] hastily on anyone, do not thereby participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Nyle thou yit drinke watir, but vse a litil wyn, for thi stomac, and `for thin ofte fallynge infirmytees.
Stop drinking only water; use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent infirmities.
24 Sum mennus synnes ben opyn, bifor goynge to dom; but of summen thei comen aftir.
The sins of some men are obvious, leading the way into judgment, while those of others trail behind.
25 And also goode dedis ben opyn, and tho that han hem in othere maner, moun not be hid.
So also the good works are obvious; even the ones that are not, cannot be hidden.

< 1 Timothy 5 >