| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, | 1Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, |
| 2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. | 2older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters. |
| 3Honor widows who are truly widows. | 3Support widows who are genuinely widows. |
| 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to 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. |
| 5She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, | 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 is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. | 6however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. |
| 7Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. | 7Command this also, so they won't be blamed. |
| 8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his 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. |
| 9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, | 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 having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted 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 desire to marry | 11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry |
| 12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. | 12and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge. |
| 13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. | 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 would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no 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 strayed after Satan. | 15For some have already turned away to follow Satan. |
| 16If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows. | 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. |
| 17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in 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, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves 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 admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. | 19Don't accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. |
| 20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. | 20Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid. |
| 21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from 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 hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part 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. |
| 23(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake 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 people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. | 24Some people's sins are obvious, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. |
| 25So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. | 25Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden. |
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