1 Timothy 5

5 ¹Don't sharply rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father, and to younger men as brothers, ²older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, in all purity.

³Honor widows who are truly widows. ⁴But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to show devotion toward their own household, repaying their parents—this pleases our Father. ⁵The true widow, left alone, sets her hope on our Father, continuing night and day in petitions and prayers. ⁶But the widow who lives for self-indulgence is dead even while she lives. ⁷Give these orders too, so they are above criticism. ⁸If anyone fails to provide for their own—especially household members—they have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever.

⁹Enroll a widow only if she's at least sixty and has been faithful to one husband, ¹⁰attested for good works: if she raised children, welcomed strangers, washed the feet of the saints, helped the suffering, and pursued every good work.

¹¹But refuse to enroll younger widows; when their desires pull them from Christ, they want to marry, ¹²and so they bring judgment on themselves for having set aside their first pledge. ^a a v12 "Their first pledge" refers to the commitment they made to serve Christ and the church when they enrolled on the widow list. ¹³They also learn to be idle, going house to house—not just idle, but gossips and busybodies, saying what they shouldn't. ¹⁴So I want younger widows to marry, bear children, manage homes, and give the opponent no chance to slander. ¹⁵For some have already turned aside to follow Satan. ¹⁶If any believing woman has widows among her relatives, she should support them, not burdening the church, so it can support true widows.

¹⁷Elders who lead well deserve double honor, especially those working hard at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸For Scripture says: "Don't muzzle an ox while it treads out grain," and "The worker deserves his pay."

¹⁹Do not entertain an accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁰As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in front of everyone, so that the rest will fear.

²¹I solemnly charge you before our Father, Christ Jesus, and the elect angels: keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. ²²Don't lay hands on anyone hastily, and don't share in others' sins—keep yourself pure.

²³Don't drink only water anymore—take a little wine for your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴Some people's sins are obvious, going ahead to judgment; others' sins follow after. ²⁵In the same way, good works are obvious, and even those that are not cannot stay hidden.