I Timothy 5

¹Do not sharply rebuke an aged man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men, as brethren;

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

³Honor as widows those that are widows indeed.

⁴But if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety to their own family, and to requite their parents; for this is acceptable before God.

⁵Now she that is a widow indeed, and left alone, hath set her hope on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day;

⁶but she that giveth herself up to pleasure is dead while she liveth.

⁷These things also enjoin, that they may be blameless.

⁸But if any one provideth not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹Let a widow be put on the list when not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one husband,

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 younger widows refuse; for when they become wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;

¹²falling into condemnation, because they have cast off their first faith;

¹³and withal they learn to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also, and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

¹⁴I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, guide the house, give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

¹⁵For some have already turned aside after Satan.

¹⁶If any man or woman that is a believer have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be burdened, that it may relieve those that are widows indeed.

¹⁷Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor; especially they who labor in the word and in teaching.

¹⁸For the Scripture saith, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox while he is treading out the grain"; and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

¹⁹Against an elder receive not an accusation without two or three witnesses.

²⁰Those that sin rebuke before all, that the rest also may fear.

²¹I charge thee before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudging, doing nothing with partiality.

²²Lay hands hastily on no one, neither share in other men’s sins. Keep thyself pure.

²³No longer drink water only, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thy frequent infirmities.

²⁴Some men’s sins are openly manifest, going before them to judgment; and some men they follow after.

²⁵In like manner also the good works of some are openly manifest; and those 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.