I Timothy 5

¹Blame thou not an eldere man, but biseche as a fadir, yonge men as britheren; elde wymmen as modris,

²yonge wymmen as sistris, in al chastite.

³Honoure thou widewis, that ben very widewis.

⁴But if ony widewe hath children of sones, lerne sche first to gouerne her hous, and quyte to fadir and modir; for this thing is acceptid bifor God.

⁵And sche that is a widewe verili, and desolate, hope in to God, and be bisy in bisechingis and preieris niyt and dai.

⁶For sche that is lyuynge in delicis, is deed.

⁷And comaunde thou this thing, that thei be withouten repreef.

⁸For if ony man hath not cure of his owne, and most of hise household men, he hath denyed the feith, and is worse than an vnfeithful man.

⁹A widewe be chosun not lesse than sixti yeer, that was wijf of oon hosebonde,

¹⁰and hath witnessing in good werkis, if sche nurschede children, if sche resseyuede pore men to herbore, if sche hath waischun the feet of hooli men, if sche mynystride to men that suffriden tribulacioun, if sche folewide al good werk.

¹¹But eschewe thou yongere widewis; for whanne thei han do letcherie, thei wolen be weddid in Crist,

¹²hauynge dampnacioun, for thei han maad voide the firste feith.

¹³Also thei idil lernen to go aboute housis, not oneli ydel, but ful of wordis and curiouse, spekynge thingis that bihoueth not.

¹⁴Therfor Y wole, that yongere widewis be weddid, and bringe forth children, and ben hosewyues, to yyue noon occasioun to the aduersarie, bi cause of cursid thing.

¹⁵For now summe ben turned abak aftir Sathanas.

¹⁶If ony feithful man hath widewis, mynystre he to hem, that the chirche be not greuyd, that it suffice to hem that ben very widewis.

¹⁷The prestis that ben wel gouernoures, be thei had worthi to double onour; moost thei that trauelen in word and teching.

¹⁸For scripture seith, Thou schalt not bridil the mouth of the oxe threischinge, and, A werk man is worthi his hire.

¹⁹Nyle thou resseyue accusyng ayens a preest, but vndur tweyne or thre witnessis.

²⁰But reproue thou men that synnen bifor alle men, that also othere haue drede.

²¹Y preie bifor God, and Jhesu Crist, and hise chosun aungelis, that thou kepe these thingis with oute preiudice, and do no thing in bowynge `in to the othere side.

²²Put thou hondis to no man, nether anoon comyne thou with othere mennus synnes. Kepe thi silf chast.

²³Nyle thou yit drinke watir, but vse a litil wyn, for thi stomac, and `for thin ofte fallynge infirmytees.

²⁴Sum mennus synnes ben opyn, bifor goynge to dom; but of summen thei comen aftir.

²⁵And also goode dedis ben opyn, and tho that han hem in othere maner, moun not 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.