Reproof and Respect

1 Πρεσβυτέρῳ (An older man) μὴ (not) ἐπιπλήξῃς (rebuke), ἀλλὰ (but) παρακάλει (exhort him) ὡς (as) πατέρα (a father), νεωτέρους (younger men) ὡς (as) ἀδελφούς (brothers), 2 πρεσβυτέρας (older women) ὡς (as) μητέρας (mothers), νεωτέρας (younger women) ὡς (as) ἀδελφὰς (sisters) ἐν (in) πάσῃ (all) ἁγνείᾳ (purity).

Honoring True Widows
(Ruth 1:1–5)

3 Χήρας (Widows) τίμα (honor) τὰς (who are) ὄντως (truly) χήρας (widows). 4 εἰ (If) δέ (however) τις (any) χήρα (widow) τέκνα (children) ἢ (or) ἔκγονα (grandchildren) ἔχει (has), μανθανέτωσαν (let them learn) πρῶτον (first) τὸν (to) ἴδιον (their own) οἶκον (household) εὐσεβεῖν (to be devout) καὶ (and) ἀμοιβὰς (recompense) ἀποδιδόναι (to give back) τοῖς (to) προγόνοις (parents)· τοῦτο (this) γάρ (for) ἐστιν (is) ἀπόδεκτον (acceptable) ἐνώπιον (before) τοῦ (-) Θεοῦ (God).

5 Ἡ (She who is) δὲ (now) ὄντως (truly) χήρα (a widow) καὶ (and) μεμονωμένη (having been left alone) ἤλπικεν (has hoped) ἐπὶ (on) Θεὸν (God) καὶ (and) προσμένει (continues) ταῖς (-) δεήσεσιν (in supplications) καὶ (and) ταῖς (-) προσευχαῖς (prayers) νυκτὸς (night) καὶ (and) ἡμέρας (day)· 6 ἡ (She) δὲ (however) σπαταλῶσα (given to luxury) ζῶσα (while living) τέθνηκεν (has died).

7 Καὶ (Also) ταῦτα (these things) παράγγελλε (command), ἵνα (so that) ἀνεπίλημπτοι (above reproach) ὦσιν (they may be). 8 εἰ (If) δέ (now) τις (anyone) τῶν (-) ἰδίων (his own) καὶ (and) μάλιστα (especially) οἰκείων (his household) οὐ (not) προνοεῖ (provides for), τὴν (the) πίστιν (faith) ἤρνηται (he has denied) καὶ (and) ἔστιν (is) ἀπίστου (than an unbeliever) χείρων (worse).

9 Χήρα (A widow) καταλεγέσθω (let be enrolled) μὴ (not) ἔλαττον (less than) ἐτῶν (years old) ἑξήκοντα (sixty) γεγονυῖα (being), ἑνὸς (of one) ἀνδρὸς (man) γυνή (the wife), 10 ἐν (in) ἔργοις (works) καλοῖς (good) μαρτυρουμένη (being testified to), εἰ (if) ἐτεκνοτρόφησεν (she brought up children), εἰ (if) ἐξενοδόχησεν (she entertained strangers), εἰ (if) ἁγίων (the saints') πόδας (feet) ἔνιψεν (she washed), εἰ (if) θλιβομένοις (to those being oppressed) ἐπήρκεσεν (she gave relief), εἰ (if) παντὶ (every) ἔργῳ (work) ἀγαθῷ (good) ἐπηκολούθησεν (she followed after).

11 Νεωτέρας (Younger) δὲ (however) χήρας (widows) παραιτοῦ (refuse)· ὅταν (when) γὰρ (for) καταστρηνιάσωσιν (they might grow wanton against) τοῦ (-) Χριστοῦ (Christ), γαμεῖν (to marry) θέλουσιν (they want), 12 ἔχουσαι (having) κρίμα (judgment) ὅτι (because) τὴν (the) πρώτην (first) πίστιν (faith) ἠθέτησαν (they set aside)· 13 ἅμα (At the same time) δὲ (then) καὶ (also) ἀργαὶ (to be idle) μανθάνουσιν (they learn), περιερχόμεναι (going around) τὰς (the) οἰκίας (houses), οὐ (not) μόνον (only) δὲ (then) ἀργαὶ (idle) ἀλλὰ (but) καὶ (also) φλύαροι (gossips) καὶ (and) περίεργοι (busybodies), λαλοῦσαι (speaking) τὰ (things) μὴ (not) δέοντα (being proper).

14 Βούλομαι (I intend for) οὖν (therefore) νεωτέρας (younger ones) γαμεῖν (to marry), τεκνογονεῖν (to bear children), οἰκοδεσποτεῖν (to manage their households), μηδεμίαν (no) ἀφορμὴν (occasion) διδόναι (to give) τῷ (the one) ἀντικειμένῳ (opposing) λοιδορίας (of reviling) χάριν (in favor)· 15 ἤδη (Already) γάρ (for) τινες (some) ἐξετράπησαν (turned aside) ὀπίσω (after) τοῦ (-) Σατανᾶ (Satan).

16 Εἴ (If) τις (any) πιστὴ (believing woman) ἔχει (has) χήρας (widows), ἐπαρκείτω (let her give relief) αὐταῖς (to them), καὶ (and) μὴ (not) βαρείσθω (let be burdened) ἡ (the) ἐκκλησία (church), ἵνα (so that) ταῖς (to those) ὄντως (truly) χήραις (widows) ἐπαρκέσῃ (it may give relief).

Honoring Elders

17 Οἱ (The) καλῶς (well) προεστῶτες (presiding) πρεσβύτεροι (elders) διπλῆς (of double) τιμῆς (honor) ἀξιούσθωσαν (let be counted worthy), μάλιστα (especially) οἱ (those) κοπιῶντες (laboring) ἐν (in) λόγῳ (the word) καὶ (and) διδασκαλίᾳ (the teaching). 18 λέγει (Says) γὰρ (for) ἡ (the) γραφή (Scripture)· Βοῦν (An ox) ἀλοῶντα (treading out grain) οὐ (not) φιμώσεις (you shall muzzle), καί (and)· Ἄξιος (Worthy is) ὁ (the) ἐργάτης (worker) τοῦ (of the) μισθοῦ (wages) αὐτοῦ (of him).

19 Κατὰ (Against) πρεσβυτέρου (an elder) κατηγορίαν (an accusation) μὴ (not) παραδέχου (do receive), ἐκτὸς (except) εἰ (if) μὴ (not) ἐπὶ (upon) δύο (two) ἢ (or) τριῶν (three) μαρτύρων (witnesses). 20 Τοὺς (Those) δὲ (however) ἁμαρτάνοντας (sinning) ἐνώπιον (before) πάντων (all) ἔλεγχε (rebuke), ἵνα (so that) καὶ (also) οἱ (the) λοιποὶ (rest) φόβον (fear) ἔχωσιν (may have).

A Charge to Timothy

21 Διαμαρτύρομαι (I earnestly testify) ἐνώπιον (before) τοῦ (-) Θεοῦ (God) καὶ (and) Χριστοῦ (Christ) Ἰησοῦ (Jesus) καὶ (and) τῶν (the) ἐκλεκτῶν (chosen) ἀγγέλων (angels) ἵνα (that) ταῦτα (these things) φυλάξῃς (you should keep) χωρὶς (without) προκρίματος (prejudice), μηδὲν (nothing) ποιῶν (doing) κατὰ (according to) πρόσκλισιν (partiality).

22 Χεῖρας (Hands) ταχέως (quickly) μηδενὶ (no one) ἐπιτίθει (lay on), μηδὲ (nor) κοινώνει (share) ἁμαρτίαις (in the sins) ἀλλοτρίαις (of others)· σεαυτὸν (yourself) ἁγνὸν (pure) τήρει (keep).

23 Μηκέτι (No longer) ὑδροπότει (drink water), ἀλλὰ (but) οἴνῳ (wine) ὀλίγῳ (a little) χρῶ (use) διὰ (because of) τὸν (the) στόμαχον (stomach) καὶ (and) τὰς (the) πυκνάς (frequent) σου (of you) ἀσθενείας (ailments).

24 Τινῶν (Of some) ἀνθρώπων (men) αἱ (the) ἁμαρτίαι (sins) πρόδηλοί (evident) εἰσιν (are) προάγουσαι (going before them) εἰς (to) κρίσιν (judgment), τισὶν (some) δὲ (however) καὶ (also) ἐπακολουθοῦσιν (they follow after)· 25 ὡσαύτως (Likewise) καὶ (also) τὰ (the) ἔργα (works) τὰ (-) καλὰ (good) πρόδηλα (are evident), καὶ (and even) τὰ (those) ἄλλως (otherwise) ἔχοντα (being) κρυβῆναι (to be hidden) οὐ (are not) δύνανται (able).