1 R ebuke not an elder sharply, but exhort as a father, younger as brethren,

An aged person thou mayest not rebuke, but be entreating as a father; younger persons as brethren;

2 e lder women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

aged women as mothers, younger ones as sisters -- in all purity;

3 H onour widows who are really widows;

honour widows who are really widows;

4 b ut if any widow have children or descendants, let them learn first to be pious as regards their own house, and to render a return on their side to parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

and if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to their own house to show piety, and to give back a recompense to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God.

5 N ow she who a widow indeed, and is left alone, has put hope in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

And she who is really a widow and desolate, hath hoped upon God, and doth remain in the supplications and in the prayers night and day,

6 B ut she that lives in habits of self-indulgence is dead living.

and she who is given to luxury, living -- hath died;

7 A nd these things enjoin, that they may be irreproachable.

and these things charge, that they may be blameless;

8 B ut if any one does not provide for his own, and specially for those of house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than the unbeliever.

and if any one for his own -- and especially for those of the household -- doth not provide, the faith he hath denied, and than an unbeliever he is worse.

9 L et a widow be put upon the list, being of not less than sixty years, wife of one man,

A widow -- let her not be enrolled under sixty years of age, having been a wife of one husband,

10 b orne witness to in good works, if she have brought up children, if she have exercised hospitality, if she have washed saints' feet, if she have imparted relief to the distressed, if she have diligently followed every good work.

in good works being testified to: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if saints' feet she washed, if those in tribulation she relieved, if every good work she followed after;

11 B ut younger widows decline; for when they grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

and younger widows be refusing, for when they may revel against the Christ, they wish to marry,

12 b eing guilty, because they have cast off their first faith.

having judgment, because the first faith they did cast away,

13 A nd, at the same time, they learn also idle, going about to people's houses; and not only idle, but also gossipers and meddlers, speaking things not becoming.

and at the same time also, they learn idle, going about the houses; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking the things they ought not;

14 I will therefore that the younger marry, bear children, rule the house, give no occasion to the adversary in respect of reproach.

I wish, therefore, younger ones to marry, to bear children, to be mistress of the house, to give no occasion to the opposer to reviling;

15 F or already some have turned aside after Satan.

for already certain did turn aside after the Adversary.

16 I f any believing man or woman have widows, let them impart relief to them, and let not the assembly be charged, that it may impart relief to those widows indeed.

If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the assembly be burdened, that those really widows it may relieve.

17 L et the elders who take the lead well be esteemed worthy of double honour, specially those labouring in word and teaching;

The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching,

18 f or the scripture says, Thou shalt not muzzle an ox that treadeth out corn, and, The workman worthy of his hire.

for the Writing saith, `An ox treading out thou shalt not muzzle,' and `Worthy the workman of his reward.'

19 A gainst an elder receive not an accusation unless where there are two or three witnesses.

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

20 T hose that sin convict before all, that the rest also may have fear.

Those sinning, reprove before all, that the others also may have fear;

21 I testify before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, that thou keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing by favour.

I testify fully, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the choice messengers, that these things thou mayest keep, without forejudging, doing nothing by partiality.

22 L ay hands quickly on no man, nor partake in others' sins. Keep thyself pure.

Be laying hands quickly on no one, nor be having fellowship with sins of others; be keeping thyself pure;

23 D rink no longer only water, but use a little wine on account of thy stomach and thy frequent illnesses.

no longer be drinking water, but a little wine be using, because of thy stomach and of thine often infirmities;

24 O f some men the sins are manifest beforehand, going before to judgment, and some also they follow after.

of certain men the sins are manifest beforehand, leading before to judgment, and certain also they follow after;

25 I n like manner good works also are manifest beforehand, and those that are otherwise cannot be hid.

in like manner also the right works are manifest beforehand, and those that are otherwise are not able to be hid.