1 Timothy, 5

1. Never speak sharply to a man older than yourself, but appeal to him as you would to your own father; treat younger men as brothers,

1. Do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as you would a father; treat younger men like brothers,

2. older women as mothers and young women as sisters with all propriety.

2. older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity.

3. Be considerate to widows -- if they really are widowed.

3. Honor widows who are real widows.

4. If a widow has children or grandchildren, they are to learn first of all to do their duty to their own families and repay their debt to their parents, because this is what pleases God.

4. If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

5. But a woman who is really widowed and left on her own has set her hope on God and perseveres night and day in petitions and prayer.

5. She who is a real widow, and is left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day;

6. The one who thinks only of pleasure is already dead while she is still alive:

6. whereas she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

7. instruct them in this, too, so that their lives may be blameless.

7. Command this, so that they may be without reproach.

8. Anyone who does not look after his own relations, especially if they are living with him, has rejected the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

8. If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9. Enrolment as a widow is permissible only for a woman at least sixty years old who has had only one husband.

9. Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband;

10. She must be a woman known for her good works -- whether she has brought up her children, been hospitable to strangers and washed the feet of God's holy people, helped people in hardship or been active in all kinds of good work.

10. and she must be well attested for her good deeds, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.

11. Do not accept young widows because if their natural desires distract them from Christ, they want to marry again,

11. But refuse to enrol younger widows; for when they grow wanton against Christ they desire to marry,

12. and then people condemn them for being unfaithful to their original promise.

12. and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge.

13. Besides, they learn how to be idle and go round from house to house; and then, not merely idle, they learn to be gossips and meddlers in other people's affairs and to say what should remain unsaid.

13. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, gadding about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

14. I think it is best for young widows to marry again and have children and a household to look after, and not give the enemy any chance to raise a scandal about them;

14. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, rule their households, and give the enemy no occasion to revile us.

15. there are already some who have turned aside to follow Satan.

15. For some have already strayed after Satan.

16. If a woman believer has widowed relatives, she should support them and not make the Church bear the expense but enable it to support those who are really widowed.

16. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are real widows.

17. Elders who do their work well while they are in charge earn double reward, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

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

18. As scripture says: You must not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn; and again: The worker deserves his wages.

18. for the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."

19. Never accept any accusation brought against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

19. Never admit any charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

20. If anyone is at fault, reprimand him publicly, as a warning to the rest.

20. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

21. Before God, and before Jesus Christ and the angels he has chosen, I charge you to keep these rules impartially and never to be influenced by favouritism.

21. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without favor, doing nothing from partiality.

22. Do not be too quick to lay hands on anyone, and never make yourself an accomplice in anybody else's sin; keep yourself pure.

22. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor participate in another man's sins; keep yourself pure.

23. You should give up drinking only water and have a little wine for the sake of your digestion and the frequent bouts of illness that you have.

23. No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

24. The faults of some people are obvious long before they come to the reckoning, while others have faults that are not discovered until later.

24. The sins of some men are conspicuous, pointing to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.

25. Similarly, the good that people do can be obvious; but even when it is not, it cannot remain hidden.

25. So also good deeds are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.