1 Timothy 5

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

5 An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a father: young men, as brethren:

²Old women, as mothers: young women, as sisters, in all chastity.

³Honour widows, that are widows indeed.

⁴But if any widow have children, or grandchildren, let her learn first to govern her own house, and to make a return of duty to her parents: for this is acceptable before God.

⁵But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her trust in God, and continue in supplications and prayers night and day.

⁶For she that liveth in pleasures, is dead while she is living.

⁷And this give in charge, that they may be blameless.

⁸But if any man have not care of his own, and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

⁹Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband.

¹⁰Having testimony for her good works, if she have brought up children, if she have received to harbour, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have ministered to them that suffer tribulation, if she have diligently followed every good work.

¹¹But the younger widows avoid. For when they have grown wanton in Christ, they will marry:

¹²Having damnation, because they have made void their first faith.

¹³And withal being idle they learn to go about from house to house: and are not only idle, but tattlers also, and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

¹⁴I will therefore that the younger should marry, bear children, be mistresses of families, give no occasion to the adversary to speak evil.

¹⁵For some are already turned aside after Satan.

¹⁶If any of the faithful have widows, let him minister to them, and let not the church be charged: that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed.

¹⁷Let the priests that rule well, be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine:

¹⁸For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

¹⁹Against a priest receive not an accusation, but under two or three witnesses.

²⁰Them that sin reprove before all: that the rest also may have fear.

²¹I charge thee before God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by declining to either side.

²²Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself chaste.

²³Do not still drink water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and thy frequent infirmities.

²⁴Some men's sins are manifest, going before to judgment: and some men they follow after.

²⁵In like manner also good deeds are manifest: and they that are otherwise, cannot be hid.

1 Timothy 5

New International Version

Widows, Elders and Slaves

5 Do not rebuke an older man^(A) harshly,^(B) but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men^(C) as brothers, ²older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

³Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.^(D) ⁴But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents,^(E) for this is pleasing to God.^(F) ⁵The widow who is really in need^(G) and left all alone puts her hope in God^(H) and continues night and day to pray^(I) and to ask God for help. ⁶But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.^(J) ⁷Give the people these instructions,^(K) so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied^(L) the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, ¹⁰and is well known for her good deeds,^(M) such as bringing up children, showing hospitality,^(N) washing the feet^(O) of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble^(P) and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

¹¹As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. ¹²Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. ¹³Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies^(Q) who talk nonsense,^(R) saying things they ought not to. ¹⁴So I counsel younger widows to marry,^(S) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.^(T) ¹⁵Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.^(U)

¹⁶If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.^(V)

¹⁷The elders^(W) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(X) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a]^(Y) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^[b]^(Z) ¹⁹Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(AA) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^(AB) ²⁰But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove^(AC) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.^(AD) ²¹I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus^(AE) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

²²Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,^(AF) and do not share in the sins of others.^(AG) Keep yourself pure.^(AH)

²³Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine^(AI) because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.