5:1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,
5:2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
5:3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.
5:4 But 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, for this is pleasing to God.
5:5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
5:6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
5:7 Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.
5:8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
5:9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,
5:10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
5:11 As 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.
5:12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.
5:13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
5:14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
5:15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.
5:16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
5:18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”
5:19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
5:20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.
5:21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
5:24 The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.
5:25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
5:1 Do not upbraid an elderly man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
5:2 Elderly women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
5:3 Honor widows who are really widows.
5:4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show respect toward their own household and to render a return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
5:5 Now she who is really a widow and is left alone has set her hope on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
5:6 But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while living.
5:7 These things also charge, that they may be without reproach.
5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
5:9 Let a widow be enrolled, not under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
5:10 Well attested for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
5:11 But younger widows refuse; for when they follow their passions in disregard of Christ, they desire to marry,
5:12 And thus have condemnation because they have set aside their first pledge.
5:13 And at the same time they also learn to be idle, going around from house to house; and they are not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
5:14 I will therefore that younger widows marry, bear children, keep house, give no opportunity to the opposer for reproach;
5:15 For already some have turned aside after Satan.
5:16 If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her assist them, and let not the church be burdened, that it may assist those who are really widows.
5:17 Let the elders who take the lead well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in word and teaching.
5:18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox that is treading out the grain,” and, “The workman is worthy of his pay.”
5:19 Against an elder do not receive an accusation, except based upon two or three witnesses.
5:20 The ones who sin reprove before all that the rest also may have fear.
5:21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels that you keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing by way of partiality.
5:22 Lay hands quickly on no man, nor participate in others’ sins; keep yourself pure.
5:23 No longer drink water only, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
5:24 The sins of some men are openly manifest, going before to judgment; and for others, they also follow after.
5:25 Likewise also the good works are openly manifest, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.
