1 Timothy 5

Modern

Literal

Reproof and Respect

¹Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father.

Treat younger men as brothers,

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

²older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

²older women as mothers; younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Honoring True Widows

³Honor the widows who are truly widows.

³Honor widows who are truly widows.

⁴But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

⁴But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to be devout first to their own household and to give back recompense to parents, for this is acceptable before God.

⁵The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.

⁵Now she who is truly a widow and having been left alone has hoped on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

⁶But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.

⁶But she given to luxury has died while living.

⁷Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.

⁷Also command these things, so that they may be above reproach.

⁸If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

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

⁹A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,

⁹Let a widow be enrolled, being not less than sixty years old, the wife of one man,

¹⁰and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

¹⁰being testified to in good works: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if she washed the feet of the saints, if she gave relief to those being oppressed, if she followed after every good work.

¹¹But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,

¹¹But refuse younger widows; for when they might grow wanton against Christ, they want to marry,

¹²and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.

¹²having judgment because they set aside the first faith.

¹³At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.

¹³And at the same time also they learn to be idle, going around the houses, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, speaking things not being proper.

¹⁴So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

¹⁴Therefore I intend for younger ones to marry, to bear children, to manage their households, to give the one opposing no occasion in favor of reviling.

¹⁵For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

¹⁵For already some turned aside after Satan.

¹⁶If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.

¹⁶If any believing woman has widows, let her give relief to them, and let the church not be burdened, so that it may give relief to those truly widows.

Honoring Elders

¹⁷Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

¹⁷Let the elders presiding well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those laboring in the word and the teaching.

¹⁸For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^a and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”^b

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

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

¹⁹Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except upon two or three witnesses.

²⁰But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

²⁰But those sinning, rebuke before all, so that the rest may have fear also.

A Charge to Timothy

²¹I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.

²¹I earnestly testify before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels that you should keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing according to partiality.

²²Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

²²Lay hands on no one quickly, nor share in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

²³Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

²³No longer drink water, but use a little wine, because of the stomach and your frequent ailments.

²⁴The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.

²⁴The sins of some men are evident, going before them to judgment; but some also they follow after.

²⁵In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.

²⁵Likewise also, the good works are evident, and even those being otherwise are not able to be hidden.