| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat 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, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. | 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters--with complete purity. |
| 3Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. | 3Honor widows who are truly in need. |
| 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to 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. |
| 5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. | 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 the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. | 6But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. |
| 7Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. | 7Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond reproach. |
| 8Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, 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. |
| 9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, | 9No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband, |
| 10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. | 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. |
| 11As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want 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, |
| 12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. | 12and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge. |
| 13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. | 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 counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity 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. |
| 15Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. | 15For some have already wandered away to follow Satan. |
| 16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. | 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. |
| 17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is 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 Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker 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 entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. | 19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses. |
| 20But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. | 20Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest. |
| 21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. | 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, and do not share 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. |
| 23Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. | 23(Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.) |
| 24The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. | 24The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later. |
| 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. | 25Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden. |
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