1 Timothy 5

5 ¹ Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as you would a father, and to younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, in all purity.

³ Honor widows who are truly widows. ⁴ But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness toward their own household and to repay their parents, for this is pleasing to our Father. ⁵ She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on our Father and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers. ⁶ But the widow who lives for self-indulgence is dead even while she lives. ⁷ Give these instructions as well, so that they may be above reproach. ⁸ If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for the members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ Let a widow be put on the list if she is at least sixty years old, having been faithful to one husband, ¹⁰ and is well known for her good works: if she has raised children, shown hospitality to strangers, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress, and devoted herself to every good work.

¹¹ But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their desires draw them away from Christ, they want to marry, ¹² and 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. ¹³ At the same time they learn to be idle, going from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they should not. ¹⁴ So I want younger widows to marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity for slander. ¹⁵ For some have already turned aside to follow Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them, and let the church not be burdened, so that it can help those who are truly widows.

¹⁷ The elders who lead well are worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The worker deserves his wages."

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

²¹ I solemnly charge you, in the presence of our Father and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, to keep these instructions without prejudging, doing nothing out of partiality. ²² Do not be hasty in laying hands on anyone, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

²³ Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

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