| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers, | 1Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, |
| 2older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters, with absolute purity. | 2the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. |
| 3Honor widows who have no other family members to care for them. | 3Honor widows who are widows indeed; |
| 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 any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable 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. | 5Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. |
| 6But the self-indulgent widow is just as good as dead. | 6But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. |
| 7Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless. | 7Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above 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 own, and especially for those 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. | 9A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, |
| 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. | 10having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she 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 put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, |
| 12They receive condemnation because they have set aside their prior commitment to the Messiah. | 12thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. |
| 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. | 13At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. |
| 14Therefore, I want younger widows to remarry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. | 14Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; |
| 15For some widows have already turned away to follow Satan. | 15for some have already turned aside to follow 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 woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. |
| 17Elders who handle their duties well should be considered worthy of double compensation, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. | 17The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at 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 THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." |
| 19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported "by two or three witnesses." | 19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis 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. | 20Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. |
| 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. | 21I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. |
| 22Do not ordain anyone hastily. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. | 22Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. |
| 23Stop drinking only water, but use a little wine for your stomach because of your frequent illnesses. | 23No longer drink water exclusively, 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 men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. |
| 25In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden. | 25Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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