V.  Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; younger men as brethren;

²elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity.

³Honor as widows those who are widows indeed.

⁴But if any widow has children or grand-children, let these learn first to show piety to their own household, and to requite their parents, for this is acceptable before God.

⁵Now she that is a widow indeed, and left alone, has set her hope on God, and continues in supplications and prayers, night and day.

⁶But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.

⁷And these things command, that they may be blameless.

⁸But if any one provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹Let not one be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, having been the wife of one husband;

¹⁰well reported of for good works; if she brought up children, if she lodged strangers, if she washed the feet of the saints, if she relieved the afflicted, if she diligently followed every good work.

¹¹But younger widows refuse; for when they have become wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;

¹²having condemnation, because they broke their first faith.

¹³And at the same time they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not.

¹⁴I desire therefore that younger widows marry, bear children, guide the house, give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

¹⁵For already, some turned aside after Satan.

¹⁶If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve those who are widows indeed.

¹⁷Let elders who preside well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and teaching.

¹⁸For the Scripture says: Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while treading out the grain; and, The laborer is worthy of his hire.

¹⁹Against an elder receive not an accusation, except before two or three witnesses.

²⁰Those who sin rebuke before all, that the rest also may fear.

²¹I charge thee before God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudging, doing nothing with partiality.

²²Lay hands hastily on no one, neither share in other men's sins. Keep thyself pure.

²³No longer drink water only, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and for thy frequent infirmities.

²⁴The sins of some men are openly manifest, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

²⁵In like manner also the good works are openly manifest; and those that are otherwise can not be hidden.