1 Do not rebuke an older man {presbyteros: senior male}, but encourage him as a father; younger men {neoterous: junior men} as brothers.
2 Older women {presbyteras: respected seniors} as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity {hagneia: moral blamelessness}.
3 Honor widows {cheras: bereaved women} who are truly {ontos: genuinely so} widows.
4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show reverence {eusebein: godly respect} within their own household and to give recompense to their forebears {progonois: older generation}; for this is acceptable before God {Theos, Approving Judge}.
5 But the widow {khera: vulnerable woman} who is truly alone and left by herself has set her hope on God {Theos, Trusted Sustainer} and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she who lives in self-indulgence {spatalosa: reckless luxury}—though alive {zosa: physically living}—is already dead.
7 And command {parangelle: give authoritative orders} these things, so that they may be blameless {anepilemptoi: beyond any charge}.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for those of his household {oikeion: shared home}, he has denied the faith {pistin: confessed belief} and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let a widow {chera: bereaved woman} be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age and has been the wife of one man {aner: single devoted husband}.
10 Having a reputation in good works, if she brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she washed the feet of the saints {hagion: consecrated ones}, if she gave help to the afflicted {thlibomenois: those experiencing hardship}, if she devoted herself to every good work.
11 But refuse younger widows; for whenever they indulge in sensual desires {katastreniasosin: uncontrolled passions} against Christ {Christos, Messianic Lord}, they desire to marry.
12 Having condemnation {krima: judicial verdict} because they have rejected their first faith {pistin: solemn pledge}.
13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, wandering from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips {phlyaroi: idle talkers} and busybodies {periergoi: prying intruders}, speaking things that are not appropriate.
14 Therefore I desire that the younger women {neoteras: younger widows} marry, bear children, manage the household, and give no opportunity to the adversary for the sake of reproach {loidoria: abusive speech}.
15 For already {ede: now evident departure} some have turned aside after Satan {Satana: hostile accuser}.
16 If any believing woman {pistē: trusting disciple} has widows, let her assist them, and let the church {ekklēsia: assembled believers} not be burdened, so that it may provide for those who are truly widows.
17 Let the elders {presbyteroi: local overseers} who lead well be considered worthy of double honor {time: respect and support}, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
18 For the Scripture {graphe: sacred writing} says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages {misthos: earned compensation}.”
19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder {presbyteros: senior leader} except on the basis of two or three witnesses {martys: legal testifiers}.
20 Rebuke those who keep on sinning {hamartanō: ongoing disobedience} in the presence of all, so that also the others may have fear {phobos: reverent awe}.
21 I solemnly charge you before God {Theos, Supreme Witness} and Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Impartial Judge} and the chosen angels, that you keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing according to favoritism.
22 Do not lay hands {kheir: symbolic commissioning} hastily on anyone, nor share in the sins of others; keep yourself pure {hagnos: morally uncontaminated}.
23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach {stomakhos: digestive organ} and your frequent infirmities {astheneia: recurring weakness}.
24 The sins {hamartiai: deliberate moral failings} of some people are manifest, going before to judgment {krisin: formal decision or verdict}, but for some they also follow after.
25 In the same way, the good works are also evident {prodela: openly visible}, and those that are otherwise {allos: different in manner} cannot be hidden.