1 Timothy 5

1 Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;

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, in all purity.

the elder women too as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, with perfect modesty.

3 Honor widows who are widows indeed.

Honour widows who are really in need.

4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of 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 who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God and continues in petitions 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 who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.

but a pleasure-loving widow is dead even while still alive.

7 Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.

Press these facts upon them, so that they may live lives free from reproach.

8 But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

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 no one be enrolled as a widow 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 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.

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 refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to 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 condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.

and they incur disapproval for having broken their original vow.

13 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.

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 desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.

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 already some have turned away after Satan.

For already some of them have gone astray, following Satan.

16 If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who 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 who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

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 says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

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 Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses.

Never entertain an accusation against an Elder except on the evidence of two of three witnesses.

20 Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in 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 command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, 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 one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure.

Do not ordain any one hastily; and do not be a partaker in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

23 Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your 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 evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.

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 In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.

So also the right actions of some are evident to the world, and those that are not cannot remain for ever out of sight.