| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers, | 1Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, |
| 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. | 2older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters. |
| 3Honor the widows who are truly widows. | 3Support widows who are genuinely widows. |
| 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. | 4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. |
| 5The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers. | 5The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; |
| 6But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive. | 6however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. |
| 7Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach. | 7Command this also, so they won't be blamed. |
| 8If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. | 8But if anyone does not provide for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. |
| 9A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man, | 9No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband, |
| 10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work. | 10and 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. |
| 11But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry, | 11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry |
| 12and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith. | 12and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge. |
| 13At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention. | 13At 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. |
| 14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander. | 14Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. |
| 15For some have already turned aside to follow Satan. | 15For some have already turned away to follow Satan. |
| 16If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need. | 16If any believing woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows. |
| 17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. | 17The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. |
| 18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.” | 18For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, the worker is worthy of his wages. |
| 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. | 19Don't accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. |
| 20But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin. | 20Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid. |
| 21I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality. | 21I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. |
| 22Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. | 22Don't be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don't share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. |
| 23Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments. | 23Don't continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. |
| 24The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later. | 24Some people's sins are obvious, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. |
| 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden. | 25Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden. |
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