| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, | 1Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. |
| 2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. | 2Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. |
| 3Honor widows who are truly widows. | 3Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. |
| 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. | 4But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God. |
| 5She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, | 5Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. |
| 6but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. | 6But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. |
| 7Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. | 7Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism. |
| 8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. | 8But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. |
| 9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, | 9A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. |
| 10and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. | 10She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good? |
| 11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry | 11The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. |
| 12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. | 12Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. |
| 13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. | 13And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. |
| 14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. | 14So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. |
| 15For some have already strayed after Satan. | 15For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. |
| 16If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows. | 16If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone. |
| 17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. | 17Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. |
| 18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” | 18For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” |
| 19Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. | 19Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. |
| 20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. | 20Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others. |
| 21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. | 21I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone. |
| 22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. | 22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. |
| 23(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) | 23Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often. |
| 24The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. | 24Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. |
| 25So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. | 25In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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