New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers,
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Do not say sharp words to one who has authority in the church, but let your talk be as to a father, and to the younger men as to brothers:
2 to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters—with absolute purity.
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To the older women as to mothers, to the younger as to sisters, with a clean heart.
3 Honor widows who are really widows.
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Give honour to widows who are truly widows.
4 If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some repayment to their parents; for this is pleasing in God's sight.
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But if any widow has children or children's children, let these see that it is right to take care of their family and their fathers and mothers: for this is pleasing in the eyes of God.
5 The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day;
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Now she who is truly a widow and without family puts her hope in God, giving herself to prayer day and night.
6 but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
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But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she is living.
7 Give these commands as well, so that they may be above reproach.
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Give orders to this effect, so that no evil may be said of anyone.
8 And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
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If anyone has no care for his family and those in his house, he is false to the faith, and is worse than one who has no faith.
9 Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once;
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Let no woman be numbered among the widows who is under sixty years old, and only if she has been the wife of one man,
10 she must be well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.
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And if witness is given of her good works; if she has had the care of children, if she has been kind to travellers, washing the feet of the saints, helping those who are in trouble, giving herself to good works.
11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list; for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry,
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But to the younger widows say No: for when their love is turned away from Christ, they have a desire to be married;
12 and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge.
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And they are judged because they have been false to their first faith;
13 Besides that, they learn to be idle, gadding about from house to house; and they are not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say.
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And they get into the way of doing no work, going about from house to house; and not only doing no work, but talking foolishly, being over-interested in the business of others, saying things which they have no right to say.
14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households, so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us.
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So it is my desire that the younger widows may be married and have children, controlling their families, and giving the Evil One no chance to say anything against them,
15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan.
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For even now some are turned away to Satan.
16 If any believing woman has relatives who are really widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it can assist those who are real widows.
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If any woman of the faith has relations who are widows, let her give them help, so that the care of them does not come on the church, and so it may give help to those who are truly widowed.
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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Let rulers whose rule is good be honoured twice over, specially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
18 for the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves to be paid."
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For the Writings say, It is not right to keep the ox from taking the grain when he is crushing it. And, The worker has a right to his reward.
19 Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
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Do not take as true any statement made against one in authority, but only if two or three give witness to it.
20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.
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Say sharp words to sinners when all are present, so that the rest may be in fear.
21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality.
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I give you orders before God and Christ Jesus and the angels of God's selection, to keep these orders without giving thought to one side more than another.
22 Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
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Do not put hands on any man without thought, and have no part in other men's sins: keep yourself clean.
23 No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
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Do not take only water as your drink, but take a little wine for the good of your stomach, and because you are frequently ill.
24 The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgment, while the sins of others follow them there.
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The sins of some men are clearly seen, going before them to be judged; but with others, their sins go after them.
25 So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.
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In the same way, there are good works which are clearly seen; and those which are not so, may not be kept secret.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.