< Timotheum I 5 >

1 Seniorem ne increpaveris, sed obsecra ut patrem: juvenes, ut fratres:
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 anus, ut matres: juvenculas, ut sorores in omni castitate:
the elder women too as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, with perfect modesty.
3 viduas honora, quæ vere viduæ sunt.
Honour widows who are really in need.
4 Si qua autem vidua filios, aut nepotes habet: discat primum domum suam regere, et mutuam vicem reddere parentibus: hoc enim acceptum est coram Deo.
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 Quæ autem vere vidua est, et desolata, speret in Deum, et instet obsecrationibus, et orationibus nocte ac die.
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 Nam quæ in deliciis est, vivens mortua est.
but a pleasure-loving widow is dead even while still alive.
7 Et hoc præcipe, ut irreprehensibiles sint.
Press these facts upon them, so that they may live lives free from reproach.
8 Si quis autem suorum, et maxime domesticorum, curam non habet, fidem negavit, et est infideli deterior.
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 Vidua eligatur non minus sexaginta annorum, quæ fuerit unius viri uxor,
No widow is to be put on the roll who is under sixty years of age.
10 in operibus bonis testimonium habens, si filios educavit, si hospitio recepit, si sanctorum pedes lavit, si tribulationem patientibus subministravit, si omne opus bonum subsecuta est.
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 Adolescentiores autem viduas devita: cum enim luxuriatæ fuerint in Christo, nubere volunt:
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 habentes damnationem, quia primam fidem irritam fecerunt;
and they incur disapproval for having broken their original vow.
13 simul autem et otiosæ discunt circuire domos: non solum otiosæ, sed et verbosæ, et curiosæ, loquentes quæ non oportet.
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 Volo ergo juniores nubere, filios procreare, matresfamilias esse, nullam occasionem dare adversario maledicti gratia.
I would therefore have the younger women marry, bear children, rule in domestic matters, and furnish the Adversary with no excuse for slander.
15 Jam enim quædam conversæ sunt retro Satanam.
For already some of them have gone astray, following Satan.
16 Si quis fidelis habet viduas, subministret illis, et non gravetur ecclesia: ut iis quæ vere viduæ sunt, sufficiat.
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 Qui bene præsunt presbyteri, duplici honore digni habeantur: maxime qui laborant in verbo et doctrina.
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 Dicit enim Scriptura: Non alligabis os bovi trituranti. Et: Dignus est operarius mercede sua.
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 Adversus presbyterum accusationem noli recipere, nisi sub duobus aut tribus testibus.
Never entertain an accusation against an Elder except on the evidence of two of three witnesses.
20 Peccantes coram omnibus argue: ut et ceteri timorem habeant.
Those who persist in sin reprove in the presence of all, so that it may also be a warning to the rest.
21 Testor coram Deo et Christo Jesu, et electis angelis, ut hæc custodias sine præjudicio, nihil faciens in alteram partem declinando.
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 Manus cito nemini imposueris, neque communicaveris peccatis alienis. Teipsum castum custodi.
Do not ordain any one hastily; and do not be a partaker in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
23 Noli adhuc aquam bibere, sed modico vino utere propter stomachum tuum, et frequentes tuas infirmitates.
(No longer be a water-drinker; but take a little wine for the sake of your digestion and your frequent ailments.)
24 Quorumdam hominum peccata manifesta sunt, præcedentia ad judicium: quosdam autem et subsequuntur.
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 Similiter et facta bona, manifesta sunt: et quæ aliter se habent, abscondi non possunt.
So also the right actions of some are evident to the world, and those that are not cannot remain for ever out of sight.

< Timotheum I 5 >