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

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

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

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

3. Honour widows that are widows indeed.

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. But 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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. But 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.

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

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

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. Well 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.

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

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

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

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

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. And 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.

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

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

15. For some are already turned aside 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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself 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. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

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. Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some [men] they follow after.

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

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