¹Do not rebuke an elder, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

²elder women as mothers, and younger women as sisters in all purity.

³Honor widows who are truly widows.

⁴But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to be devout to her own household and to give recompense to the parents; for this is good and pleasing before God.

⁵Now she who is indeed a widow and abandoned has hope in God, and she continues in supplications and in prayers by night and day;

⁶but she living in self-indulgence has died while living.

⁷Command also these things, so that they may be above reproach.

⁸Now if anyone does not provide for their own, and especially of their household, he has denied the trust and he is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹A widow should be enrolled not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,

¹⁰being borne witness to in good works, if she has brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if she has washed holy ones' feet, if she has imparted relief to those being oppressed, if she has followed after every good work.

¹¹But refuse younger widows; for when they may grow wanton against the Anointed One, they desire to marry,

¹²incurring judgment because they have cast off the first trust;

¹³then at the same time also they learn to be idle, going about house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking things not being proper.

¹⁴Therefore I want the younger ones to marry, to bear children, to manage their households, to give no occasion of reproach to the one who opposes;

¹⁵for already some have turned aside after the adversary.

¹⁶If any faithful or believing woman has dependent widows, she should help them, and the assembly should not be burdened, so that it may impart relief to those who are truly widows.

¹⁷The elders ruling well should be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who strain in the word and the teaching;

¹⁸for the Scripture says, "An ox treading out grain you will not muzzle," and, "Worthy is the workman of his wages."

¹⁹Against an elder receive not an accusation, unless only except upon two or three witnesses.

²⁰Now those sinning rebuke before all, so that also the rest may have fear.

²¹I earnestly testify before God and the Lord the Anointed One Jesus and the chosen messengers that you may keep these things apart from prejudice, doing nothing out of partiality.

²²Lay hands soon on no one, nor share in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

²³No longer drink only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

²⁴Of some men the sins are manifest, going before them to judgment; however of some also they appear later.

²⁵Likewise also the good works are evident, and even those otherwise being are not able to be concealed.