1 TIMOTHY Chapter 5 - Advice About Widows And Elders

Advice About Widows And Elders 

Do not rebuke an older man harshly,

But exhort him as if he were your father.

Treat younger men as brothers,

2 Older women as mothers,

And younger women as sisters, with Absolute Purity.

3 Give proper recognition to those widows

Who are really in need.

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren,

These should learn first of all

To put their Religion into Practice

By caring for their own family

And so Repaying their parents and grandparents

For this is Pleasing to God.

5 The widow who is really need and left all alone

Puts her hope in God for help.

6 But the widow who lives for Pleasure is Dead

Even while she lives.

7 Give the people these Instructions, too,

So that no one may be open to Blame.

8 IF ANYONE DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR HIS RELATIVES,

AND ESPECIALLY FOR HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY,

HE HAS DENIED THE FAITH

AND IS WORSE THAN AN UNBELIEVER.

9 No widow may be put on the list of widows

Unless she is over sixty,

Has been Faithful to her husband,

10 And is well known for her Good Deeds,

Such as bringing up children, showing Hospitality,

Washing the feet of the Saints,

Helping those in Trouble

And Devoting herself to All Kinds of Good Deeds.

11 As for younger widows,

Do not put them on such a list.

For when their Sensual Desires

Overcome their Dedication to Christ,

They want to marry.

12 THUS THEY BRING JUDGMENT ON THEMSELVES,

BECAUSE THEY HAVE BROKEN THEIR FIRST PLEDGE.

13 Besides, they get into the Habit of being Idle

And going about from house to house.

And not only do they become Idlers,

But also Gossips and Busybodies,

Saying things they ought not to.

14 So I counsel younger widows to marry,

To have children, to manage their homes

And to give the Enemy No Opportunity for Slander.

15 SOME HAVE IN FACT ALREADY TURNED AWAY

TO FOLLOW SATAN.

16 If any woman who is a Believer

Has widows in her family,

She should help them

And not let the Church be Burdened with them,

So that the Church can help those widows

Who are really in need.

17 The Elders who direct the affairs of the Church

Well worthy of Double Honor,

Especially those whose work is Preaching and Teaching.

18 For the Scripture says,

'Do not Muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,'

And 'The Worker deserves his Wages.'

19 Do not entertain an Accusation against an Elder

Unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.

20 THOSE WHO SIN ARE TO BE REBUKED PUBLICLY,

SO THAT THE OTHERS MAY TAKE WARNING.

21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus

And the Elect Angels,

To keep these Instructions without Partiality,

AND TO DO NOTHING OUT OF FAVORITISM.

22 DO NOT BE HASTY IN LAYING ON OF HANDS,

AND DO NOT SHARE IN THE SINS OF OTHERS.

KEEP YOURSELF PURE.

STOP DRINKING ONLY WATER,

AND USE A LITTLE WINE

BECAUSE OF YOUR STOMACH AND YOUR FREQUENT ILLNESSES.

24 The Sins of some men are Obvious,

REACHING THE PLACE OF JUDGEMENT AHEAD OF THEM;

THE SINS OF OTHERS TRAIL BEHIND THEM.

25 In the same way, Good Deeds are Obvious,

AND EVEN THOSE THAT ARE NOT CANNOT BE HIDDEN.

(1 Timothy 5)