| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, | 1Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers, |
| 2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. | 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters--with complete purity. |
| 3Honor widows who are truly widows. | 3Honor widows who are truly in need. |
| 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 a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what 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, | 5But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day. |
| 6but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. | 6But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. |
| 7Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. | 7Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond reproach. |
| 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 someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, 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 put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was 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 has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress--as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works. |
| 11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry | 11But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry, |
| 12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. | 12and so incur judgment for breaking their former 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. | 13And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not. |
| 14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. | 14So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us. |
| 15For some have already strayed after Satan. | 15For some have already wandered 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 a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need. |
| 17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. | 17Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking 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 deserves his pay." |
| 19Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. | 19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed 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. | 20Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest. |
| 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. | 21Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind. |
| 22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. | 22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with 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.) | 23(Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.) |
| 24The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. | 24The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later. |
| 25So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. | 25Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden. |
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