1 Timothy 5
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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 rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat 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.2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
3Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.3Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.
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 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.
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.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.
6But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives.6But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
7Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.7Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame.
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.8Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, 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.9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,
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?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.
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.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.
12Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first 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.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.
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.14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
15For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.15Some have in fact already turned away 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 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.
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 direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is 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 Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."
19Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses.19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by 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.20But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.
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 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.
22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.23Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
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 are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.
25In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
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 International Version (NIV)

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