^{1 Ref} Do not say sharp words to one who has authority in the church, but let your talk be as to a father, and to the younger men as to brothers:

^{2 Ref} To the older women as to mothers, to the younger as to sisters, with a clean heart.

^{3 Ref} Give honour to widows who are truly widows.

^{4 Ref} But if any widow has children or children's children, let these see that it is right to take care of their family and their fathers and mothers: for this is pleasing in the eyes of God.

^{5 Ref} Now she who is truly a widow and without family puts her hope in God, giving herself to prayer day and night.

^{6 Ref} But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she is living.

^{7 Ref} Give orders to this effect, so that no evil may be said of anyone.

^{8 Ref} If anyone has no care for his family and those in his house, he is false to the faith, and is worse than one who has no faith.

^{9 Ref} Let no woman be numbered among the widows who is under sixty years old, and only if she has been the wife of one man,

^{10 Ref} And if witness is given of her good works; if she has had the care of children, if she has been kind to travellers, washing the feet of the saints, helping those who are in trouble, giving herself to good works.

^{11 Ref} But to the younger widows say No: for when their love is turned away from Christ, they have a desire to be married;

^{12 Ref} And they are judged because they have been false to their first faith;

^{13 Ref} And they get into the way of doing no work, going about from house to house; and not only doing no work, but talking foolishly, being over-interested in the business of others, saying things which they have no right to say.

^{14 Ref} So it is my desire that the younger widows may be married and have children, controlling their families, and giving the Evil One no chance to say anything against them,

^{15 Ref} For even now some are turned away to Satan.

^{16 Ref} If any woman of the faith has relations who are widows, let her give them help, so that the care of them does not come on the church, and so it may give help to those who are truly widowed.

^{17 Ref} Let rulers whose rule is good be honoured twice over, specially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

^{18 Ref} For the Writings say, It is not right to keep the ox from taking the grain when he is crushing it. And, The worker has a right to his reward.

^{19 Ref} Do not take as true any statement made against one in authority, but only if two or three give witness to it.

^{20 Ref} Say sharp words to sinners when all are present, so that the rest may be in fear.

^{21 Ref} I give you orders before God and Christ Jesus and the angels of God's selection, to keep these orders without giving thought to one side more than another.

^{22 Ref} Do not put hands on any man without thought, and have no part in other men's sins: keep yourself clean.

^{23 Ref} Do not take only water as your drink, but take a little wine for the good of your stomach, and because you are frequently ill.

^{24 Ref} The sins of some men are clearly seen, going before them to be judged; but with others, their sins go after them.

^{25 Ref} In the same way, there are good works which are clearly seen; and those which are not so, may not be kept secret.

^{1 Ref} Don't rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;

^{2 Ref} the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

^{3 Ref} Honor widows who are widows indeed.

^{4 Ref} But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is{TR adds "good and"} acceptable in the sight of God.

^{5 Ref} Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.

^{6 Ref} But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.

^{7 Ref} Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.

^{8 Ref} But if anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

^{9 Ref} Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,

^{10 Ref} being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.

^{11 Ref} But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;

^{12 Ref} having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.

^{13 Ref} Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

^{14 Ref} I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for reviling.

^{15 Ref} For already some have turned aside after Satan.

^{16 Ref} If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don't let the assembly be burdened; that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.

^{17 Ref} Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

^{18 Ref} For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain." And, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

^{19 Ref} Don't receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.

^{20 Ref} Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.

^{21 Ref} I charge you in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.

^{22 Ref} Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men's sins. Keep yourself pure.

^{23 Ref} Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.

^{24 Ref} Some men's sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later.

^{25 Ref} In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can't be hidden.

^{1 Ref} Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

^{2 Ref} The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

^{3 Ref} Honour widows that are widows indeed.

^{4 Ref} But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

^{5 Ref} Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

^{6 Ref} But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

^{7 Ref} And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

^{8 Ref} But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

^{9 Ref} Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

^{10 Ref} Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

^{11 Ref} But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

^{12 Ref} Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

^{13 Ref} And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

^{14 Ref} I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

^{15 Ref} For some are already turned aside after Satan.

^{16 Ref} If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

^{17 Ref} Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

^{18 Ref} For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

^{19 Ref} Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

^{20 Ref} Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

^{21 Ref} I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

^{22 Ref} Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

^{23 Ref} Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

^{24 Ref} Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

^{25 Ref} Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.