| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers, | 1Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers, |
| 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. | 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters--with complete purity. |
| 3Honor the widows who are truly widows. | 3Honor widows who are truly in need. |
| 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 a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases 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. | 5But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day. |
| 6But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive. | 6But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. |
| 7Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach. | 7Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond 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 someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. |
| 9A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man, | 9No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband, |
| 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. | 10and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress--as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works. |
| 11But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry, | 11But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry, |
| 12and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith. | 12and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge. |
| 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 besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not. |
| 14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander. | 14So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us. |
| 15For some have already turned aside to follow Satan. | 15For some have already wandered away to follow 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 a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need. |
| 17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. | 17Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching. |
| 18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.” | 18For the scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and, "The worker deserves his pay." |
| 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. | 19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by 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. | 20Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest. |
| 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. | 21Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind. |
| 22Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. | 22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with 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. | 23(Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.) |
| 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 people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later. |
| 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden. | 25Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden. |
|
