New International Version | International Standard Version |
1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, | 1Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers, |
2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. | 2older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters, with absolute purity. |
3Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. | 3Honor widows who have no other family members to care for them. |
4But 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. | 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to respect their own family by repaying their parents, for this is pleasing in God's sight. |
5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. | 5A woman who has no other family members to care for her and who is left all alone has placed her hope in God and devotes herself to petitions and prayers night and day. |
6But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. | 6But the self-indulgent widow is just as good as dead. |
7Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. | 7Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless. |
8Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. | 8If anyone does not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. |
9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, | 9A widow may be put on the widows' list if she is at least sixty years old and has been the wife of one husband. |
10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. | 10She must be well known for her good actions as a woman who has raised children, welcomed strangers, washed the saints' feet, helped the suffering, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. |
11As 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. | 11But do not include younger widows on your list. For whenever their natural desires cause them to lose their devotion to the Messiah, they want to remarry. |
12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. | 12They receive condemnation because they have set aside their prior commitment to the Messiah. |
13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. | 13At the same time, they also learn how to be lazy while going from house to house. Not only this, but they even become gossips and keep busy by interfering in other people's lives, saying things they should not say. |
14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. | 14Therefore, I want younger widows to remarry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. |
15Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. | 15For some widows have already turned away to follow Satan. |
16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. | 16If any woman is a believer and has relatives who are widows, she should help them. The church should not be burdened, so it can help those widows who have no other family members to care for them. |
17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. | 17Elders who handle their duties well should be considered worthy of double compensation, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. |
18For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." | 18For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out grain," and, "A worker deserves his pay." |
19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. | 19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported "by two or three witnesses." |
20But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. | 20As for those who keep on sinning, rebuke them in front of everyone so that the rest will also be afraid. |
21I 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. | 21With God as my witness, as well as the Messiah Jesus and the chosen angels, I solemnly call on you to carry out these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. |
22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. | 22Do not ordain anyone hastily. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. |
23Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. | 23Stop drinking only water, but use a little wine for your stomach because of your frequent illnesses. |
24The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. | 24The sins of some people are obvious, leading them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there. |
25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. | 25In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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