English Standard Version ESV
New Living Translation NLT
1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,
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Never 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.
2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
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Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.
3 Honor widows who are truly widows.
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Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.
4 But 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.
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But 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.
5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,
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Now 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.
6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
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But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives.
7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.
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Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.
8 But 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.
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But 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.
9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,
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A 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.
10 and 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.
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She 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?
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry
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The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.
12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.
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Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.
13 Besides 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.
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And 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.
14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
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So 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.
15 For some have already strayed after Satan.
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For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.
16 If 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.
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If 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.
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
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Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."
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For 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!”
19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
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Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses.
20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
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Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.
21 In 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.
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I 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.
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
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Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)
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Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.
24 The sins of some men are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.
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Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.
25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
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In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.