• 1. An aged person thou mayest not rebuke, but be entreating as a father; younger persons as brethren;
  • 2. aged women as mothers, younger ones as sisters -- in all purity;
  • 3. honour widows who are really widows;
  • 4. and if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to their own house to show piety, and to give back a recompense to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God.
  • 5. And she who is really a widow and desolate, hath hoped upon God, and doth remain in the supplications and in the prayers night and day,
  • 6. and she who is given to luxury, living -- hath died;
  • 7. and these things charge, that they may be blameless;
  • 8. and if any one for his own -- and especially for those of the household -- doth not provide, the faith he hath denied, and than an unbeliever he is worse.
  • 9. A widow -- let her not be enrolled under sixty years of age, having been a wife of one husband,
  • 10. in good works being testified to: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if saints' feet she washed, if those in tribulation she relieved, if every good work she followed after;
  • 11. and younger widows be refusing, for when they may revel against the Christ, they wish to marry,
  • 12. having judgment, because the first faith they did cast away,
  • 13. and at the same time also, they learn `to be' idle, going about the houses; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking the things they ought not;
  • 14. I wish, therefore, younger ones to marry, to bear children, to be mistress of the house, to give no occasion to the opposer to reviling;
  • 15. for already certain did turn aside after the Adversary.
  • 16. If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the assembly be burdened, that those really widows it may relieve.
  • 17. The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching,
  • 18. for the Writing saith, `An ox treading out thou shalt not muzzle,' and `Worthy `is' the workman of his reward.'
  • 19. Against an elder an accusation receive not, except upon two or three witnesses.
  • 20. Those sinning, reprove before all, that the others also may have fear;
  • 21. I testify fully, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the choice messengers, that these things thou mayest keep, without forejudging, doing nothing by partiality.
  • 22. Be laying hands quickly on no one, nor be having fellowship with sins of others; be keeping thyself pure;
  • 23. no longer be drinking water, but a little wine be using, because of thy stomach and of thine often infirmities;
  • 24. of certain men the sins are manifest beforehand, leading before to judgment, and certain also they follow after;
  • 25. in like manner also the right works are manifest beforehand, and those that are otherwise are not able to be hid.