| New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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. | 1Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, |
| 2Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. | 2the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. |
| 3Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. | 3Honor widows who are widows indeed; |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. | 6But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. |
| 7Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism. | 7Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 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? | 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. |
| 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. | 11But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, |
| 12Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. | 12thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 14Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; |
| 15For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. | 15for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. |
| 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. | 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 do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both 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 to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their 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 listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. | 19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. |
| 20Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others. | 20Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share 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. |
| 23Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often. | 23No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. |
| 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. | 24The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. |
| 25In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. | 25Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. |
| 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. | 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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