1 An older man don’t reprove harshly, but appeal to him respectfully+ as you would your own father. Younger men treat like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters, with absolute purity.

3 As for widows, honor and provide help to those who are truly+ in need.+ 4 If a widow has children, though,+ or grandchildren, these must first learn to fulfill their sacred duty+ toward their own family,+ and to repay their parents and grandparents what is owed them.+ This, you see, is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 A widow who is truly+ in need, however, and completely on her own,+ has placed her hope in God and presents her pleas and prayers to him night and day.+ 6 A widow who is self-indulgent, however, is, despite+ the breath in her body,+ dead.+ 7 Have the people carry out,+ too,+ these instructions, so that they may be above reproach.+ 8 If someone refuses+ to provide for his own relatives, however,+ and especially for the members of his household,+ the faith he has denied;+ he is worse than an unbeliever.+ 9 A widow may not be put on the list unless she is at least sixty+ years old, was to her husband+ faithful,+ 10 having a reputation for good deeds+: If she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the Lord’s holy people,+ if she has come to the help of the afflicted,+ if she has devoted herself to good deeds+ of all kinds. 11 Widows who are younger,+ however, you are not to include on the list,+ because when their passions become stronger than their vow to the Messiah,+ they want to remarry,+ 12 and as a result+ incur punishment,+ because they have on their earlier promise+ turned their backs.+ 13 Besides that, they get into the habit of doing nothing productive,+ idling about from one house to the next. And not only this,+ but they are also gossips and meddlesome busybodies, talking about things they shouldn’t.+ 14 In light of these things, I earnestly bid+ younger widows to remarry, have children, manage their homes, and give the adversary not even the slightest+ opportunity to stir up+ slander. 15 For some have strayed to follow Satan already.+ 16 If a believing woman has widows in her family,+ she is to help them and not place a financial strain on the assembly,+ so that it may focus its help on those widows who are truly+ in need.

17 Elders who lead well+ are to be considered deserving of twofold+ honor,+ especially those who are working hard at proclaiming the message and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “An ox, while it is treading out the grain, ˢyou must+ not muzzle and keep from+ eating,+”+ and, “a worker is of his wages certainly+ deserving.”+ 19 Against an elder+ do not accept+ an accusation, unless it can be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 20 In the case of those who are in fact sinning,+ it is+ in front of everyone that you are to clearly but firmly+ point out their fault to them, so that the rest, too, may take strong+ warning.+ 21 I give you this solemn charge in the presence of God and Messiah Jesus and the chosen angels: These instructions you are to carry out without partiality, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22 Hands you are to lay on no+ one too+ quickly; don’t share responsibility for their sins.+ Yourself you must keep pure.+ 23 (Stop drinking only water, but use for your stomach a little wine,+ since+ you are sick so+ often.) 24 The sins of some people are very+ easy to see, going on ahead of them to judgment. For others, however, their sins make it there only+ after they do.+ 25 In the same way, good deeds, too, are themselves+ easy to see, and even those that are not+ so immediately apparent+ are of remaining hidden incapable.+