^aDo not sharply rebuke an ^bolder man, but rather plead with 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 ^cpetitions and prayers night and day. 6 But she who ^alives in self-indulgence is ^bdead even while she lives. 7 ^aAnd command 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; 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 affliction, 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 And 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 opportunity for reviling, 15 for some ^ahave already turned aside after ^bSatan. 16 If any believing woman ^ahas 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 ^blead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who ^clabor ¹at preaching the word and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “^aYOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE IT 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, ^areprove in the presence of all, ^bso that the rest also will be fearful. 21 ^aI solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His elect angels, to observe these instructions without bias, doing nothing in partiality. 22 ^aDo not lay hands upon anyone hastily and ¹thereby share ^bresponsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

23 No longer drink water only, 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 So also good works are quite evident, and ^athose which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

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

3 Honor widows who are actually ^awidows; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, ^athey must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back compensation to their parents; for this is ^bacceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is actually a ^awidow and has been left alone ^bhas set her hope on God, and she continues in ^crequests and prayers night and day. 6 But she who ^aindulges herself in luxury is ^bdead, even while she lives. 7 ^1aGive these instructions 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 register younger widows, for when they feel ^aphysical desires alienating them from Christ, they want to get married, 12 thereby incurring condemnation, because they have ¹ignored their previous pledge. 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 they become ^agossips and ^bbusybodies, talking about ^cthings not proper to mention. 14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get ^amarried, have children, ^bmanage their households, and ^cgive the enemy no opportunity for reproach; 15 for some ^ahave already turned away 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 actually ^cwidows.

17 ^aThe elders who ^blead 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 IT IS THRESHING,” and “^bThe laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not accept 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 exhort 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 quickly and ¹thereby share ^bresponsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself ²free from sin.

23 Do not go on drinking only water, but ^ause a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

24 The sins of some people 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.

^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.