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not speak harshly to an older man, but exhort him as if he were your father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger woman as sisters, with absolute purity.
3 Honour widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to practice their religious duty toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The real widow who left all alone puts her hope in God and continues in her petitions and prayers night and day. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give this command also, so they won’t be blamed. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is not less than sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband, 10 and is well known for her good works—if she has raised children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to all kinds of good deeds.
11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when their sensual desires draw them away from Christ they want to marry, 12 so they will incur condemnation because they have broken their first pledge. 13 And besides that, they learn to be idle, going from house to house; and not only did they become idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not to say. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity for slander. 15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan.
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened, so that church can help those widows who are really in need.
17 The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain”, and, “The labourer is worthy of his wages”. 19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who persist in sin are to be publicly rebuked, so that the rest will also be afraid.
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing out of favouritism.
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 No longer drink water only, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
24 The sins of some men are clearly evident, going before them to judgment, while the sins of some men follow them and surface later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.