^aDo not sharply reprimand an ^bolder man, but appeal to him as you would to a father, to ^cyounger men as brothers, 2 to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters, in all purity being careful to maintain appropriate relationships.

3 Honor and help those widows who are ^atruly widowed alone, and without support. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren who are adults, see to it that ^athese first learn to show great respect to their own family as their religious duty and natural obligation, and to compensate their parents or grandparents for their upbringing; for this is ^bacceptable and pleasing in the sight of God. 5 Now a woman who is ^areally a widow and has been left entirely alone without adequate income ^btrusts in God and continues in ^csupplications and prayers night and day. 6 Whereas she who ^alives for pleasure and self-indulgence is spiritually ^bdead even while she still lives. 7 ^aKeep instructing the people to do these things as well, so that they may be blameless and beyond reproach. 8 If anyone fails to provide for his own, and especially for those of his own family, he has ^adenied the faith by disregarding its precepts and is worse than an unbeliever who fulfills his obligation in these matters.

9 A widow is to be ^aput on the list to receive regular assistance only if she is over sixty years of age, having been ^bthe wife of one man, 10 and has a reputation for ^agood deeds; she is eligible if she has brought up children, if she has ^bshown hospitality to strangers, if she ^chas washed the feet of the saints (God’s people) , if she has ^dassisted the distressed, and has devoted herself to doing good in every way. 11 But refuse to enroll the younger widows, for when they feel their natural ^adesires in disregard of Christ, they wish to marry again, 12 and so they incur condemnation for having set aside their ¹previous pledge. 13 Now at the same time, they also learn to be idle as they go from house to house; and not only idle, but also ^agossips and ^1bbusybodies meddlers in things that do not concern them, talking about ^cthings they should not mention. 14 So I want younger widows to get ^amarried, have children, ^bmanage their households, and not ^cgive opponents of the faith any occasion for slander. 15 Some widows ^ahave already turned away from the faith to follow ^bSatan. 16 If any believing woman ^ahas dependent widows in her household, ¹she must ^bassist them according to her ability; and the church must not be burdened with them, so that it may assist those who are ^ctruly widows those who are all alone and are dependent.

17 ^aThe elders who ^bperform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honor (financial support) , especially those who ^cwork hard at preaching and teaching the word of God concerning eternal salvation through Christ. 18 For the Scripture says, “^aYOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE IT IS TREADING OUT THE GRAIN to keep it from eating,” and, “^bThe worker is worthy of his wages he deserves fair compensation.” Deut 25:4; Luke 10:7 19 Do not accept an accusation against an ^aelder unless it is based on the testimony of at least ^btwo or three witnesses. Deut 19:15 20 As for those elders who continue in sin, ^areprimand them in the presence of all the congregation, ^bso that the rest will be warned. 21 ^aI solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels that you guard and keep these rules without bias, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22 ^aDo not hurry to lay hands on anyone ordaining and approving someone for ministry or an office in the church, or in reinstating expelled offenders, and thereby share in ^bthe sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

23 No longer ¹continue drinking only water, but ^ause a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24 ¹The sins of some people are conspicuous, leading the way for them into judgment so that they are clearly not qualified for ministry; but the sins of others ^aappear later for they are hidden and follow behind them. 25 Likewise, good deeds are quite evident, and ^athose which are otherwise cannot be hidden indefinitely.

^aDo not sharply rebuke an ^bolder man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to ^cthe younger men as brothers, 2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

3 Honor widows who are ^awidows indeed; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, ^athey must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to ¹make some return to their parents; for this is ^bacceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is a ^awidow indeed and who has been left alone, ^bhas fixed her hope on God and continues in ^centreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who ^agives herself to wanton pleasure is ^bdead even while she lives. 7 ^1aPrescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has ^adenied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 A widow is to be ^aput on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been ^bthe wife of one man, 10 having a reputation for ^agood works; and if she has brought up children, if she has ^bshown hospitality to strangers, if she ^chas washed the ¹saints’ feet, if she has ^dassisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel ^asensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous ¹pledge. 13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also ^agossips and ^bbusybodies, talking about ^cthings not proper to mention. 14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get ^amarried, bear children, ^bkeep house, and ^cgive the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for some ^ahave already turned aside to follow ^bSatan. 16 If any woman who is a believer ^ahas dependent widows, she must ^bassist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are ^cwidows indeed.

17 ^aThe elders who ^brule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who ^cwork hard ¹at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “^aYOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “^bThe laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an ^aelder except on the basis of ^btwo or three witnesses. 20 Those who continue in sin, ^arebuke in the presence of all, ^bso that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. 21 ^aI solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. 22 ^aDo not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and ¹thereby share ^bresponsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself ²free from sin.

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

24 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins ^afollow after. 25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and ^athose which are otherwise cannot be concealed.