| King James Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; | 1Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. |
| 2The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. | 2Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. |
| 3Honour widows that are widows indeed. | 3Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. |
| 4But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. | 4But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God. |
| 5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. | 5Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. |
| 6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. | 6But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. |
| 7And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. | 7Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism. |
| 8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. | 8But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. |
| 9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, | 9A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. |
| 10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. | 10She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good? |
| 11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; | 11The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. |
| 12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. | 12Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. |
| 13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. | 13And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. |
| 14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. | 14So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. |
| 15For some are already turned aside after Satan. | 15For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. |
| 16If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. | 16If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone. |
| 17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. | 17Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. |
| 18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. | 18For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” |
| 19Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. | 19Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. |
| 20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. | 20Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others. |
| 21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. | 21I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone. |
| 22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. | 22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. |
| 23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. | 23Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often. |
| 24Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. | 24Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. |
| 25Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. | 25In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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