I Timothy 5

¹Rebuke not an Elder, but exhort him as a father, and the yonger men as brethren,

²The elder women as mothers, the yonger as sisters, with all purenesse.

³Honour widowes, which are widowes in deede.

⁴But if any widowe haue children or nephewes, let them learne first to shewe godlinesse towarde their owne house, and to recompense their kinred: for that is an honest thing and acceptable before God.

⁵And shee that is a widowe in deede and left alone, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and praiers night and day.

⁶But shee that liueth in pleasure, is dead, while shee liueth.

⁷These things therefore warne them of, that they may be blamelesse.

⁸If there bee any that prouideth not for his owne, and namely for them of his housholde, hee denieth the faith, and is worse then an infidell.

⁹Let not a widow be taken into the number vnder three score yeere olde, that hath beene the wife of one husband,

¹⁰And well reported of for good woorkes: if shee haue nourished her children, if shee haue lodged the strangers, if shee haue washed the Saintes feete, if shee haue ministred vnto them which were in aduersitie, if shee were continually giuen vnto euery good woorke.

¹¹But refuse the yonger widowes: for when they haue begun to waxe wanton against Christ, they will marrie,

¹²Hauing damnation, because they haue broken the first faith.

¹³And likewise also being idle they learne to goe about from house to house: yea, they are not onely ydle, but also pratlers and busibodies, speaking things which are not comely.

¹⁴I will therefore that the yonger women marie, and beare children, and gouerne the house, and giue none occasion to the aduersary to speake euill.

¹⁵For certaine are alreadie turned backe after Satan.

¹⁶If any faithfull man, or faithfull woman haue widowes, let them minister vnto them, and let not the Church bee charged, that there may bee sufficient for them that are widowes in deede.

¹⁷The Elders that rule well, let them be had in double honour, specially they which labour in the worde and doctrine,

¹⁸For the Scripture sayeth, Thou shalt not mousell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne: and, The labourer is worthie of his wages.

¹⁹Against an Elder receiue none accusation, but vnder two or three witnesses.

²⁰Them that sinne, rebuke openly, that the rest also may feare.

²¹I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou obserue these thinges without preferring one to an other, and doe nothing partially.

²²Lay handes suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens sinnes: keepe thy selfe pure.

²³Drinke no longer water, but vse a litle wine for thy stomakes sake, and thine often infirmities.

²⁴Some mens sinnes are open before hand, and goe before vnto iudgement: but some mens folowe after.

²⁵Likewise also the good woorkes are manifest before hande, 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.