1 Timothy 5:1-25
5 Do not severely criticize an older man.*+ To the contrary, entreat him as a father, younger men as brothers,
2 older women+ as mothers, younger women as sisters+ with all chasteness.
3 Honor widows that are actually widows.+
4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn first to practice godly devotion* in their own household+ and to keep paying a due compensation to their parents+ and grandparents, for this is acceptable in God’s sight.+
5 Now the woman who is actually a widow and left destitute+ has put her hope in God+ and persists in supplications and prayers night and day.+
6 But the one that goes in for sensual gratification+ is dead+ though she is living.
7 So keep on giving these commands,+ that they may be irreprehensible.+
8 Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own,+ and especially for those who are members of his household,+ he has disowned+ the faith+ and is worse than a person without faith.*
9 Let a widow be put on the list who has become not less than sixty years old, a wife of one husband,+
10 having a witness borne to her for fine works,+ if she reared children,+ if she entertained strangers,+ if she washed the feet of holy ones,+ if she relieved those in tribulation,+ if she diligently followed every good work.+
11 On the other hand, turn down younger widows, for when their sexual impulses have come between them and the Christ,+ they want to marry,
12 having a judgment because they have disregarded their first [expression of] faith.+
13 At the same time they also learn to be unoccupied, gadding about to the houses; yes, not only unoccupied, but also gossipers and meddlers in other people’s affairs,+ talking of things they ought not.
14 Therefore I desire the younger widows to marry,+ to bear children,+ to manage a household, to give no inducement to the opposer to revile.+
15 Already, in fact, some have been turned aside to follow Satan.
16 If any believing woman has widows,* let her relieve them,+ and let the congregation not be under the burden. Then it can relieve those who are actually widows.+
17 Let the older men* who preside+ in a fine way be reckoned worthy of double honor,+ especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.+
18 For the scripture says: “You must not muzzle a bull when it threshes out the grain”;+ also: “The workman is worthy of his wages.”+
19 Do not admit an accusation against an older man,* except only on the evidence of two or three witnesses.+
20 Reprove+ before all onlookers persons who practice sin,+ that the rest also may have fear.+
21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus*+ and the chosen angels to keep these things without prejudgment, doing nothing according to a biased leaning.+
22 Never lay your hands+ hastily upon any man;+ neither be a sharer in the sins of others;+ preserve yourself chaste.+
23 Do not drink water any longer, but use a little wine+ for the sake of your stomach and your frequent cases of sickness.
24 The sins of some men are publicly manifest,+ leading directly to judgment, but as for other men [their sins] also become manifest later.+
25 In the same way also the fine works are publicly manifest+ and those that are otherwise cannot be kept hid.+
Footnotes
^ Or, “elder.” Gr., pre·sby·teʹroi, dative, sing.
^ “Godly devotion,” אA; J7,8, “wisdom and fear of Jehovah.”
^ “A person without faith,” אAVgSyp; J13,14,18, “a person who has disowned Jehovah.”
^ “Widows,” that is, bereaved relatives.
^ Or, “elders.”
^ Or, “elder.” Gr., pre·sby·teʹrou.
^ See App 6E.
