| New International Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, | 1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, |
| 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. | 2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. |
| 3Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. | 3Honor widows who are truly widows. |
| 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. | 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. |
| 5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. | 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 widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. | 6but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. |
| 7Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. | 7Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. |
| 8Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, 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. |
| 9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, | 9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, |
| 10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. | 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. |
| 11As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. | 11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry |
| 12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. | 12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. |
| 13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. | 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. |
| 14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. | 14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. |
| 15Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. | 15For some have already strayed after Satan. |
| 16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. | 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. |
| 17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. | 17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. |
| 18For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." | 18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” |
| 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. | 19Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. |
| 20But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. | 20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. |
| 21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. | 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 be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share 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, and use a little wine because of your stomach and 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 are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. | 24The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. |
| 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. | 25So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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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