King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
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Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat the younger men as your brothers,
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
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the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, with all purity.
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
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Show respect for widows who really are all alone.
4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
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But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn first to carry out their religious duties toward their own family and in this way repay their parents and grandparents, because that is what pleases God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
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A widow who is all alone, with no one to take care of her, has placed her hope in God and continues to pray and ask him for his help night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
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But a widow who gives herself to pleasure has already died, even though she lives.
7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
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Give them these instructions, so that no one will find fault with them.
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
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But if any do not take care of their relatives, especially the members of their own family, they have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
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Do not add any widow to the list of widows unless she is over sixty years of age. In addition, she must have been married only once
10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
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and have a reputation for good deeds: a woman who brought up her children well, received strangers in her home, performed humble duties for other Christians, helped people in trouble, and devoted herself to doing good.
11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
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But do not include younger widows in the list; because when their desires make them want to marry, they turn away from Christ,
12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
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and so become guilty of breaking their earlier promise to him.
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
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They also learn to waste their time in going around from house to house; but even worse, they learn to be gossips and busybodies, talking of things they should not.
14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
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So I would prefer that the younger widows get married, have children, and take care of their homes, so as to give our enemies no chance of speaking evil of us.
15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
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For some widows have already turned away to follow Satan.
16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
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But if any Christian woman has widows in her family, she must take care of them and not put the burden on the church, so that it may take care of the widows who are all alone.
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
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The elders who do good work as leaders should be considered worthy of receiving double pay, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
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For the scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox when you are using it to thresh grain" and "Workers should be given their pay."
19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
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Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or more witnesses.
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
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Rebuke publicly all those who commit sins, so that the rest may be afraid.
21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
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In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the holy angels I solemnly call upon you to obey these instructions without showing any prejudice or favor to anyone in anything you do.
22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
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Be in no hurry to lay hands on people to dedicate them to the Lord's service. Take no part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
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Do not drink water only, but take a little wine to help your digestion, since you are sick so often.
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
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The sins of some people are plain to see, and their sins go ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others are seen only later.
25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
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In the same way good deeds are plainly seen, and even those that are not so plain cannot be hidden.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.