1 ¶ Al anciano no riñas, sino exhórtalo como a padre; a los más jóvenes, como a hermanos;

Do not speak sharp words to an older man. Talk with him as if he were a father. Talk to younger men as brothers.

2 a las ancianas, como a madres; a las jovencitas, como a hermanas, con toda limpieza.

Talk to older women as mothers. Talk to younger women as sisters, keeping yourself pure.

3 ¶ Honra a las viudas que en verdad son viudas.

Help women whose husbands have died.

4 Y si alguna viuda tuviere hijos, o nietos, aprendan éstos primero a gobernar su casa piadosamente, y a recompensar a sus padres, porque esto es lo honesto y agradable delante de Dios.

If a woman whose husband has died has children or grandchildren, they are the ones to care for her. In that way, they can pay back to their parents the kindness that has been shown to them. God is pleased when this is done.

5 A hora, la que en verdad es viuda y sola, espera en Dios, y es diligente en súplicas y oraciones noche y día.

Women whose husbands have died are alone in this world. Their trust is in the Lord. They pray day and night.

6 P ero la que vive en delicias, viviendo está muerta en vida.

But the one who lives only for the joy she can receive from this world is the same as dead even if she is alive.

7 M anda, pues, esto, para que sean sin reprensión.

Teach these things so they will do what is right.

8 P ero si alguno no tiene cuidado de los suyos, y mayormente de los de su casa, la fe negó, y es peor que el que no creyó.

Anyone who does not take care of his family and those in his house has turned away from the faith. He is worse than a person who has never put his trust in Christ.

9 L a viuda sea puesta en lista, no menor de sesenta años, la cual haya sido mujer de un varón.

A woman over sixty years old whose husband has died may receive help from the church. To receive this help, she must have been the wife of one man.

10 Q ue tenga testimonio en buenas obras; si crió bien sus hijos; si ha ejercitado la hospitalidad; si ha lavado los pies de los santos; si ha socorrido a los afligidos; si ha seguido toda buena obra.

She must be known for doing good things for people and for being a good mother. She must be known for taking strangers into her home and for washing the feet of Christians. She must be known for helping those who suffer and for showing kindness.

11 P ero viudas más jóvenes no admitas, porque después de hacerse licenciosas contra Cristo, quieren casarse.

Do not write the names of younger women whose husbands have died together with the names of others who need help. They will turn away from Christ because of wanting to get married again.

12 T eniendo ya condenación, por haber falseado su primera fe.

Then they would be thought of as guilty of breaking their first promise.

13 T ampoco admitas las ociosas, enseñadas a andar de casa en casa; y no solamente ociosas, sino también parleras y curiosas, hablando lo que no conviene.

They will waste their time. They will go from house to house carrying stories. They will find fault with people and say things they should not talk about.

14 Q uiero pues, que las que son jóvenes se casen, críen hijos, gobiernen la casa; que ninguna ocasión den al adversario para maldecir.

I think it is best for younger women whose husbands have died to get married. They should have children and care for their own homes. Then no one can speak against them.

15 P orque ya algunas han vuelto atrás en pos de Satanás.

Some of these women have already turned away to follow Satan.

16 S i algún fiel o alguna fiel tiene viudas, manténgalas, y no sea gravada la Iglesia; a fin de que haya lo suficiente para las que de verdad son viudas.

If you have any women whose husbands have died in your family, you must care for them. The church should not have to help them. The church can help women whose husbands have died who are all alone in this world and have no one else to help them. Teaching About Leaders

17 ¶ Los ancianos que gobiernan bien, sean tenidos por dignos de doble honra; mayormente los que trabajan en predicar y enseñar.

Leaders who do their work well should be given twice as much pay, and for sure, those who work hard preaching and teaching.

18 P orque la Escritura dice: No embozarás al buey que trilla; y: Digno es el obrero de su jornal.

The Holy Writings say, “When a cow is walking on the grain to break it open, do not stop it from eating some”, and “A person who works should be paid.”

19 C ontra un anciano no recibas acusación, sino con dos o tres testigos.

Do not listen to what someone says against a church leader unless two or three persons say the same thing.

20 A los que pecaren, repréndelos delante de todos, para que los otros también tengan temor.

Show those who keep on sinning where they are wrong in front of the whole church. Then others will be afraid of sinning.

21 T e requiero delante de Dios y del Señor Jesús el Cristo, y de sus Angeles escogidos, que guardes estas cosas, sin perjuicio de nadie, no haciendo nada con parcialidad.

I tell you from my heart that you must follow these rules without deciding before the truth is known. God and Jesus Christ and the chosen angels know what I am saying. Show favors to no one.

22 N o impongas fácilmente las manos a ninguno, ni participes en pecados ajenos; consérvate en limpieza.

Do not be in a hurry about choosing a church leader. You do not want to have any part in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure.

23 N o bebas de aquí adelante agua, sino usa de un poco de vino por causa del estómago, y de tus continuas enfermedades.

Do not drink water only. Use a little wine because of your stomach and because you are sick so often.

24 L os pecados de algunos hombres, antes que vengan ellos a juicio, son manifiestos; mas a otros les vienen después.

The sins of some men can be seen. Their sins go before them and make them guilty. The sins of other men will be seen later.

25 A simismo las buenas obras antes son manifiestas; y las que son de otra manera, no pueden esconderse.

In the same way, good works are easy to see now. But some that are not easy to be seen cannot always be hid.