¹Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father; exhort the younger men as brothers; ²the older women as mothers, the younger women as sisters, with all purity.

³Support financially the widows who are truly bereft. ⁴But if a widow has children or grandchildren, those should practice godliness toward their own family first, and give back in repayment to their parents. For this is pleasing in the sight of God. ⁵Whereas one who is a widow and is left all alone, she has placed her hope in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁶But the one who lives for self-indulgence is dead while she lives. ⁷And you must command these things so they are blameless. ⁸But if someone of their own family and especially of their immediate relatives, is not providing for them, that person has denied the faith, and is worse than a non-believer. ⁹Enroll as a widow the following: not younger than 60 years old, was the wife of only one husband, ¹⁰is witnessed to be with good works, has brought up children, hosted strangers, washed the feet of the saints, helped the afflicted, been devoted to every good work.

¹¹But deny younger widows. For when they get desires away from Christ, they want to marry, ¹²having condemnation, because they have cast off their first faith. ¹³At the same time moreover they acquire the habit of being idle, going from house to house, not just idle but tattletales and gossipers as well, speaking things they ought not. ¹⁴Therefore I want the younger ones to marry, to have children, to maintain a home, for the sake of giving the adversary no opportunity to accuse. ¹⁵Because some have already turned away after Satan. ¹⁶If any male or female believer has widows, let that person assist them and not burden the church, so that the widows who are truly bereft may be assisted.

¹⁷Those who serve well as elders shall be considered worthy of double financial support, especially those toiling in the word and in teaching. ¹⁸For the scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and, ‘the worker deserves his pay.’ ¹⁹Do not accept an accusation against an elder, unless upon the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁰Those who are sinning, rebuke in front of everyone, so that the others also have fear.

²¹I solemnly charge you before God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without preference, doing nothing according to partiality. ²²Do not be hasty laying hands on anyone, neither be partaker in someone else’s sins; keep yourself pure. ²³Drink no longer only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴Some people’s sins are evident beforehand, preceding them to judgment; and some people, they follow after. ²⁵Likewise also the good works of some are evident beforehand; and those which are otherwise, cannot remain hidden.