1 Timothy 5

Young's Literal Translation

5 An aged person thou mayest not rebuke, but be entreating as a father; younger persons as brethren;

²aged women as mothers, younger ones as sisters -- in all purity;

³honour widows who are really widows;

⁴and if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to their own house to show piety, and to give back a recompense to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God.

⁵And she who is really a widow and desolate, hath hoped upon God, and doth remain in the supplications and in the prayers night and day,

⁶and she who is given to luxury, living -- hath died;

⁷and these things charge, that they may be blameless;

⁸and if any one for his own -- and especially for those of the household -- doth not provide, the faith he hath denied, and than an unbeliever he is worse.

⁹A widow -- let her not be enrolled under sixty years of age, having been a wife of one husband,

¹⁰in good works being testified to: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if saints' feet she washed, if those in tribulation she relieved, if every good work she followed after;

¹¹and younger widows be refusing, for when they may revel against the Christ, they wish to marry,

¹²having judgment, because the first faith they did cast away,

¹³and at the same time also, they learn [to be] idle, going about the houses; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking the things they ought not;

¹⁴I wish, therefore, younger ones to marry, to bear children, to be mistress of the house, to give no occasion to the opposer to reviling;

¹⁵for already certain did turn aside after the Adversary.

¹⁶If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the assembly be burdened, that those really widows it may relieve.

¹⁷The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching,

¹⁸for the Writing saith, `An ox treading out thou shalt not muzzle,' and `Worthy [is] the workman of his reward.'

¹⁹Against an elder an accusation receive not, except upon two or three witnesses.

²⁰Those sinning, reprove before all, that the others also may have fear;

²¹I testify fully, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the choice messengers, that these things thou mayest keep, without forejudging, doing nothing by partiality.

²²Be laying hands quickly on no one, nor be having fellowship with sins of others; be keeping thyself pure;

²³no longer be drinking water, but a little wine be using, because of thy stomach and of thine often infirmities;

²⁴of certain men the sins are manifest beforehand, leading before to judgment, and certain also they follow after;

²⁵in like manner also the right works are manifest beforehand, and those that are otherwise are not able to be hid.

1 Timothy 5

New International Version

Widows, Elders and Slaves

5 Do not rebuke an older man^(A) harshly,^(B) but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men^(C) as brothers, ²older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

³Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.^(D) ⁴But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents,^(E) for this is pleasing to God.^(F) ⁵The widow who is really in need^(G) and left all alone puts her hope in God^(H) and continues night and day to pray^(I) and to ask God for help. ⁶But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.^(J) ⁷Give the people these instructions,^(K) so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied^(L) the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, ¹⁰and is well known for her good deeds,^(M) such as bringing up children, showing hospitality,^(N) washing the feet^(O) of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble^(P) and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

¹¹As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. ¹²Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. ¹³Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies^(Q) who talk nonsense,^(R) saying things they ought not to. ¹⁴So I counsel younger widows to marry,^(S) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.^(T) ¹⁵Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.^(U)

¹⁶If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.^(V)

¹⁷The elders^(W) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(X) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a]^(Y) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^[b]^(Z) ¹⁹Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(AA) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^(AB) ²⁰But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove^(AC) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.^(AD) ²¹I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus^(AE) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

²²Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,^(AF) and do not share in the sins of others.^(AG) Keep yourself pure.^(AH)

²³Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine^(AI) because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.