1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Honor true widows

3Give financial support to widows who are really ‘widows’.

4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to demonstrate piety in their own household by repaying their parents, for this is pleasing ⁶⁴to God.

5Now she who is really a widow and desolate has set her hope on God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

6But she who indulges in pleasure is dead while she lives.

7You should even command these things, so that they may be blameless.

8But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. ⁶⁵

9No widow should be enrolled unless she is at least sixty, a one man wife,

10known for good works—she brought up children, she lodged strangers, she washed saints' feet, she relieved the afflicted, she devoted herself to every good work. ⁶⁶

About younger widows

11As for younger widows, do not enroll them; because whenever they are controlled by sensual desires rather than by Christ, they want to marry,

12coming under judgment because they have broken their first commitment. ⁶⁷

13Not only that, they learn to be idle, going around from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. ⁶⁸

14So I want the younger widows to marry, to bear children, to manage the home, to give the adversary no occasion for caustic comments.

15(In fact, some have already turned aside after Satan.) ⁶⁹

16If any man or ⁷⁰woman who is a believer has widows, let them relieve them and not burden the congregation, so that it may relieve those who are widows indeed. ⁷¹

Honor elders

17Let the elders who lead well be counted worthy of a double honorarium, especially those who labor in word and teaching.

18For the Scripture says: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain,” and “The worker is worthy of his wages.” ⁷²

19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

20Those who are sinning rebuke publicly, so that the rest also may be in fear. ⁷³

Watch your step

21I charge you in the presence of God and Sovereign ⁷⁴Jesus Christ and the elect angels ⁷⁵that you observe these things without prejudgment, doing nothing by partiality.

22Do not lay hands [in ordination] hastily on anyone, do not thereby participate in the sins of others. ⁷⁶Keep yourself pure.

23Stop drinking only water; use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent infirmities. ⁷⁷

24The sins of some men are obvious, leading the way into judgment, ⁷⁸while those of others trail behind.

25So also the good works are obvious; even the ones that are not, cannot be hidden.