1 Timothy, 5

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

1. Do not rebuke an older man; on the contrary, advise him as if he were your father. Treat the young as your brothers,

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

2. the elder women as mothers and the young girls as your sisters, with great purity.

3. Honour widows that are widows indeed.

3. Take care of widows who are really widows.

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.

4. If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their family duties and give their parents financial help. This is correct and pleases God.

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

5. A true widow is one who, in being left alone, has set her hope in God, praying day and night to God and asking him for help.

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

6. On the contrary, a widow who lives as she pleases is dead even while she lives.

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

7. Warn them about this that they may be blameless.

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.

8. Those who do not take care of their own, especially those of their household, have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers.

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

9. Let no one be put on the list of widows unless she is sixty years old and has been married only once.

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.

10. She must be commended for her good works and the education of her children. Has she offered hospitality to and humbly served the saints, helped the suffering and practiced other good deeds?

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

11. Do not accept younger widows; they may have other desires than for Christ and want to marry;

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

12. then they deserve condemnation for breaking their first commitment.

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.

13. Besides they form the habit of being idle, going from house to house. And it is not just idleness! They become gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

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

14. So I want young widows to marry and have children, to rule their household and give adversaries no grounds for criticism.

15. For some are already turned aside after Satan.

15. Some have already strayed to follow Satan.

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.

16. If any Christian woman has widows in her family, let her assist them; in this way the church will not be burdened and may assist those who are truly widows.

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

17. Let the elders who rule well receive double compensation, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

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

18. Scripture says: Do not muzzle the ox while it threshes grain, and: The worker deserves his wages.

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

19. Do not accept accusations against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

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

20. If he continues to sin, rebuke him in the presence of the community, as a warning to the rest.

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.

21. I urge you, in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and of the holy angels, to obey these rules with impartiality, without making distinctions.

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

22. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, thus becoming an accomplice in the sins of others. Keep yourself free from blame.

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

23. Do not drink only water but take a little wine to help your digestion, because of your frequent illness.

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

24. The sins of some people are plain to see, even before they are examined; the sins of others are known only later on.

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

25. Likewise good deeds are conspicuous; even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.