1. Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
2. older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.
3. Support widows who are genuinely widows.
4. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to practice their religion toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.
5. The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers;
6. however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
7. Command this, so that they won't be blamed.
8. Now if anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9. No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband,
10. and is well known for good works-- that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.
11. But refuse to enroll younger widows; for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry,
12. and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge.
13. At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn't say.
14. Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.
15. For some have already turned away to follow Satan.
16. If any believing woman has widows, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.
17. The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18. For the Scripture says: You must not muzzle an ox that is threshing grain, and, The laborer is worthy of his wages.
19. Don't accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
20. Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.
21. I solemnly charge you, before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
22. Don't be too quick to lay hands on anyone, and don't share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23. Don't continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
24. Some people's sins are evident, going before them to judgment, but [the sins] of others follow them.
25. Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not [obvious] cannot remain hidden.