I Timothy 5

¹You should not rebuke an old man, but rather plead with him, as if he were your father; with young men, like brothers;

²with old women, like mothers; with young women, in all chastity, like sisters.

³Honor those widows who are true widows.

⁴But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let her first learn to manage her own household, and to fulfill, in turn, her own obligation to her parents; for this is acceptable before God.

⁵But she who is truly a widow and is destitute, let her hope in God, and let her be urgent in supplications and prayers, night and day.

⁶For she who is living in pleasures is dead, while living.

⁷And give instruction in this, so that they may be beyond reproach.

⁸But if anyone has no concern for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and he is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹Let a widow be chosen who is no less than sixty years of age, who was the wife of one husband,

¹⁰who has testimony of her good works: whether she has educated children, or has provided hospitality, or has washed the feet of the saints, or has ministered to those suffering tribulation, or has pursued any kind of good work.

¹¹But avoid the younger widows. For once they have flourished in Christ, they will want to marry,

¹²resulting in damnation, because they have disregarded the primacy of faith.

¹³And being at the same time also idle, they learn to go from house to house, being not only idle, but also talkative and curious, speaking of things which do not concern them.

¹⁴Therefore, I want the younger women to marry, to procreate children, to be mothers of families, to provide no ready opportunity for the adversary to speak evil.

¹⁵For certain ones have already been turned back to Satan.

¹⁶If any among the faithful have widows, let him minister to them and not burden the Church, so that there may be enough for those who are true widows.

¹⁷Let priests who lead well be held worthy of twice the honor, especially those who labor in the Word and in doctrine.

¹⁸For Scripture says: “You shall not muzzle an ox as it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his pay.”

¹⁹Do not be willing to accept an accusation against a priest, except under two or three witnesses.

²⁰Reprove sinners in the sight of everyone, so that the others may have fear.

²¹I testify before God and Christ Jesus and the elect Angels, that you should observe these things without prejudgment, doing nothing which shows favoritism to either side.

²²You should not be quick to impose hands on anyone, nor should you take part in the sins of outsiders. Keep yourself chaste.

²³Do not continue to drink only water, but make use of a little wine, for the sake of your stomach and your frequent infirmities.

²⁴The sins of some men have been made manifest, preceding them to judgment, but those of others are manifested later.

²⁵Similarly, too, good deeds have been made manifest, but even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.

I Timothy 5

¹An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a father: young men, as brethren:

²Old women, as mothers: young women, as sisters, in all chastity.

³Honour widows that are widows indeed.

⁴But if any widow have children or grandchildren, let her learn first to govern her own house and to make a return of duty to her parents; for this is acceptable before God.

⁵But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her trust in God and continue in supplications and prayers night and day.

⁶For she that liveth in pleasures is dead while she is living.

⁷And this give in charge, that they may be blameless.

⁸But if any man have not care of his own and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.

⁹Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband.

¹⁰Having testimony for her good works, if she have brought up children, if she have received to harbour, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have ministered to them that suffer tribulation, if she have diligently followed every good work.

¹¹But the younger widows avoid. For when they have grown wanton in Christ, they will marry:

¹²Having damnation, because they have made void their first faith.

¹³And withal being idle they learn to go about from house to house: and are not only idle, but tattlers also and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not.

¹⁴I will, therefore, that the younger should marry, bear children, be mistresses of families, give no occasion to the adversary to speak evil.

¹⁵For some are already turned aside after Satan.

¹⁶If any of the faithful have widows, let him minister to them, and let not the church be charged: that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed.

¹⁷Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

¹⁸For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

¹⁹Against a priest receive not an accusation, but under two or three witnesses.

²⁰Them that sin reprove before all that the rest also may have fear.

²¹I charge thee, before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by declining to either side.

²²Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself chaste.

²³Do not still drink water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thy frequent infirmities.

²⁴Some men's sins are manifest, going before to judgment: and some men they follow after.

²⁵In like manner also good deeds are manifest: and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.