| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, | 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. |
| 2older women as mothers, younger women 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. |
| 3Honor widows who are really widows. | 3Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. |
| 4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this 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 who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues 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 who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. | 6But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. |
| 7And these things command, that they may be blameless. | 7Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has 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 for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has 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 refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to 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 condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. | 12Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. |
| 13And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying 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. |
| 14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity 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 have already turned aside after Satan. | 15For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. |
| 16If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. | 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 who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor 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 says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” | 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!” |
| 19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. | 19Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. |
| 20Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest 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 you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with 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. |
| 22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. | 22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. |
| 23No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent 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 clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. | 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, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden. | 25In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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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