1 Timothy — Chapter 5

1Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

3Honor the widows who are truly widows.

4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

5The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.

6But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.

7Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.

8If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,

10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

11But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,

12and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.

13At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.

14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

15For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

16If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.

17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

20But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

21I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.

22Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

24The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.

25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.

1Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

2The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

3Honour widows that are widows indeed.

4But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

7And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,

10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15For some are already turned aside after Satan.

16If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

19Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

24Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

25Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

1Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren:

2the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

3Honor widows that are widows indeed.

4But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

6But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.

7These things also command, that they may be without reproach.

8But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

9Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, [having been] the wife of one man,

10well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints` feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work.

11But younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;

12having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.

13And withal they learn also [to be] idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

14I desire therefore that the younger [widows] marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling:

15for already some are turned aside after Satan.

16If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it mat relieve them that are widows indeed.

17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire.

19Against an elder receive not an accusation, except at [the mouth of] two or three witnesses.

20Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.

21I charge [thee] in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.

22Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men`s sins: keep thyself pure.

23Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach`s sake and thine often infirmities.

24Some men`s sins are evident, going before unto judgment; and some men also they follow after.

25In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.

1Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,

2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters—with complete purity.

3Honor widows who are truly in need.

4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God.

5But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day.

6But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.

7Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond reproach.

8But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband,

10and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress—as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.

11But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry,

12and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge.

13And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.

14So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.

15For some have already wandered away to follow Satan.

16If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.

17Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.

18For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker deserves his pay.”

19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.

20Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest.

21Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.

22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23(Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.)

24The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.

25Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden.

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

2the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

3Honor widows who are widows indeed.

4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

5Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.

6But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.

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

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

9Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,

10being 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.

11But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;

12having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.

13Besides, 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.

14I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.

15For already some have turned away after Satan.

16If 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.

17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

19Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.

20Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.

21I 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.

22Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure.

23Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

24Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.

25In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.