1 Timothy 5

1 Do not say sharp words to one who has authority in the church, but let your talk be as to a father, and to the younger men as to 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 To the older women as to mothers, to the younger as to sisters, with a clean heart.

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

3 Give honour to widows who are truly widows.

Honour widows who are really in need.

4 But if any widow has children or children's children, let these see that it is right to take care of their family and their fathers and mothers: for this is pleasing in the eyes 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 truly a widow and without family puts her hope in God, giving herself to prayer day and night.

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 is living.

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

7 Give orders to this effect, so that no evil may be said of anyone.

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

8 If anyone has no care for his family and those in his house, he is false to the faith, and is worse than one who has no faith.

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 woman be numbered among the widows who is under sixty years old, and only if she has been the wife of one man,

No widow is to be put on the roll who is under sixty years of age.

10 And if witness is given of her good works; if she has had the care of children, if she has been kind to travellers, washing the feet of the saints, helping those who are in trouble, giving herself to good works.

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 to the younger widows say No: for when their love is turned away from Christ, they have a desire to be married;

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 And they are judged because they have been false to their first faith;

and they incur disapproval for having broken their original vow.

13 And they get into the way of doing no work, going about from house to house; and not only doing no work, but talking foolishly, being over-interested in the business of others, saying things which they have no right to say.

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 So it is my desire that the younger widows may be married and have children, controlling their families, and giving the Evil One no chance to say anything against them,

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 even now some are turned away to Satan.

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

16 If any woman of the faith has relations who are widows, let her give them help, so that the care of them does not come on the church, and so it may give help to those who are truly widowed.

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 rulers whose rule is good be honoured twice over, specially those whose work is preaching and 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 Writings say, It is not right to keep the ox from taking the grain when he is crushing it. And, The worker has a right to 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 Do not take as true any statement made against one in authority, but only if two or three give witness to it.

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

20 Say sharp words to sinners when all are present, so that the rest 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 give you orders before God and Christ Jesus and the angels of God's selection, to keep these orders without giving thought to one side more than another.

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 Do not put hands on any man without thought, and have no part in other men's sins: keep yourself clean.

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

23 Do not take only water as your drink, but take a little wine for the good of your stomach, and because you are frequently ill.

(No longer be a water-drinker; but take a little wine for the sake of your digestion and your frequent ailments.)

24 The sins of some men are clearly seen, going before them to be judged; but with others, their sins go after them.

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, there are good works which are clearly seen; and those which are not so, may not be kept secret.

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