1Do not speak harshly to an older man. Appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat the younger men as brothers.
2Treat the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, with complete purity.
3Honour widows who are truly widows.
4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness at home, and to pay back what they owe their parents. That is good and pleasing before God.
5The woman who is truly a widow, and is left all alone, puts her trust in God. She keeps on making requests and prayers night and day.
6But the woman who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is alive.
7Command these things, so that they may be blameless.
8But if anyone does not provide for his own people, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than someone who does not believe.
9Do not put a widow on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, and has been the wife of one man.
10She must be well spoken of for her good works: if she has brought up children, if she has taken in strangers, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those in trouble, if she has carefully given herself to every good work.
11But refuse the younger widows. For when their desires pull them away from Christ, they want to marry,
12and so they are condemned, because they have thrown away their first faith.
13At the same time they learn to be idle, going around from house to house. And they are not only idle, but they gossip and meddle, saying things they should not say.
14So I want the younger women to marry, to have children, to look after the house, and to give the enemy no chance to speak against them.
15For some have already turned aside and followed Satan.
16If any believing man or woman has widows in the family, let them help those widows. The church must not be burdened, so that it can help the women who are truly widows.
17The elders who lead well should be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the corn." And, "The worker is worthy of his pay."
19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
20Those who sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the rest may be afraid.
21I charge you, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the chosen angels, to keep these rules. Do not judge anyone before you hear the case, and do nothing out of favouritism.
22Do not be quick to lay hands on anyone, and do not share in other people's sins. Keep yourself pure.
23Do not drink only water any more. Use a little wine, for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
24Some people's sins are plain to see, and go ahead of them to judgment. The sins of others follow after them.
25In the same way, the good works of some are plain to see; and those that are not cannot stay hidden.