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.

I Timothy 5

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

²The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

³Honour widows that are widows indeed.

⁴But 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.

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

⁶But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

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

⁸But 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.

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

¹⁰Well 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.

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

¹²Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

¹³And 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.

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

¹⁵For some are already turned aside after Satan.

¹⁶If 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.

¹⁷Let the elders that rule well be counted 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 an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

²⁰Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

²¹I 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.

²²Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

²³Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

²⁴Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

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