¶ Rebuke¹ not an elder², but intreat³ him as a father; and the younger men as brethren⁴;

The elder⁵ women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with⁶ all purity.

¶ Honour⁷ widows⁸ that are widows indeed⁹.

But if any widow have children or nephews¹⁰, let them learn¹¹ first to shew piety¹² at home, and to requite¹³ their parents: for that is good¹⁴ and acceptable before God.

Now she that is a widow¹⁵ indeed, and desolate¹⁶, trusteth¹⁷ in God, and continueth¹⁸ in supplications and prayers night and day.

But she¹⁹ that liveth in pleasure²⁰ is dead²¹ while she liveth.

²²And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

But if any provide not for his own, and specially²³ for those of his own house²⁴, he hath²⁵ denied the faith, and is²⁶ worse than an infidel.

Let not a widow²⁷ be taken²⁸ into the number under threescore years old, having²⁹ been the wife of one man,

¶ Well reported³⁰ of for good³¹ works; if she have brought³² up children, if she have lodged³³ strangers, if she have washed³⁴ the saints' feet, if she have relieved³⁵ the afflicted, if she have diligently³⁶ followed every good work.

But the younger³⁷ widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax³⁸ wanton against Christ, they will³⁹ marry;

Having damnation⁴⁰, because they have cast off their⁴¹ first faith.

And withal they learn to be⁴² idle, wandering⁴³ about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies⁴⁴, speaking⁴⁵ things which they ought not.

I will⁴⁶ therefore that the younger⁴⁷ women marry, bear children, guide⁴⁸ the house, give⁴⁹ none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully⁵⁰.

⁵¹For some are already turned aside after Satan.

If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them⁵² relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed⁵³.

¶ Let the elders⁵⁴ that rule⁵⁵ well be⁵⁶ counted worthy of double⁵⁷ honour, especially they who labour⁵⁸ in the word⁵⁹ and doctrine.

For the scripture⁶⁰ saith, Thou⁶¹ shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer⁶² is worthy of his reward.

Against an elder receive⁶³ not an accusation, but before⁶⁴ two or three witnesses.

¶ Them that sin rebuke⁶⁵ before all, that others⁶⁶ also may fear.

I charge⁶⁷ thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect⁶⁸ angels, that⁶⁹ thou observe these things without preferring⁷⁰ one before another, doing nothing by partiality⁷¹.

Lay⁷² hands suddenly⁷³ on no man, neither⁷⁴ be partaker of other men's sins: keep⁷⁵ thyself pure.

⁷⁶Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

⁷⁷Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

Likewise also the good⁷⁸ works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot⁷⁹ be hid.