| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers, | 1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, |
| 2older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters, with absolute purity. | 2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. |
| 3Honor widows who have no other family members to care for them. | 3Honor widows who are truly widows. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 5She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, |
| 6But the self-indulgent widow is just as good as dead. | 6but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. |
| 7Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless. | 7Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry |
| 12They receive condemnation because they have set aside their prior commitment to the Messiah. | 12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 14Therefore, I want younger widows to remarry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. | 14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. |
| 15For some widows have already turned away to follow Satan. | 15For some have already strayed after Satan. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 17Elders who handle their duties well should be considered worthy of double compensation, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. | 17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. |
| 18For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out grain," and, "A worker deserves his pay." | 18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” |
| 19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported "by two or three witnesses." | 19Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. |
| 20As for those who keep on sinning, rebuke them in front of everyone so that the rest will also be afraid. | 20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 22Do not ordain anyone hastily. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. | 22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. |
| 23Stop drinking only water, but use a little wine for your stomach because of your frequent illnesses. | 23(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) |
| 24The sins of some people are obvious, leading them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there. | 24The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. |
| 25In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden. | 25So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | 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. |
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