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Advice about Widows, Elders, and Slaves

Never speak harshly to an older man,[a] but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

Take care of[b] any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.

But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.[c] 10 She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly?[d] Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?

11 The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. 12 Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. 13 And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. 14 So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. 15 For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.

16 If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.

17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well,[e] especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”[f]

19 Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.

21 I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.

22 Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader.[g] Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23 Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.

24 Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. 25 In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Or an elder.
  2. 5:3 Or Honor.
  3. 5:9 Greek was the wife of one husband.
  4. 5:10 Greek and washed the feet of God’s holy people?
  5. 5:17 Greek should be worthy of double honor.
  6. 5:18 Deut 25:4; Luke 10:7.
  7. 5:22 Greek about the laying on of hands.

To a Zaken do not speak harsh rebuke. Rather entreat him as an abba. Treat the bochrim as achim (brothers).

Elderly nashim treat as imahot (mothers); younger nashim as achayot (sisters) in all hatohar (moral purity).

Honor [with support] almanot (widows) that are really almanot.

But if any almanah has banim or bnei banim, let the banim or bnei banim learn first to show yirat Shomayim vis-a-vis their own bais and to render recompense to the horim (parents), for this is acceptable in the sight of Hashem.

Now the true almanah, left alone, has set her tikvah on Hashem and continues in her techinnah [2:1] and her tefillos yomam valailah.

But the one living in ahavat ta’anugot (hedonism) has died while living.

And insist on these things, that the almanot be irreproachable.

But if anyone does not get a parnasah to provide for his own mishpochah and especially his own bais, he has denied the emunah [of Moshiach] and is worse than an Apikoros (skeptic, unbeliever).

Let an almanah be enrolled on the [kehillah support] list if she is not less than sixty years old, nesu’ah l’ish echad (a one man woman),

10 being commended by ma’asim tovim, having brought up banim, having showed hachnosas orchim, having washed the feet of the Kadoshim, having given nechamah (comfort) to the oppressed, having devoted herself to every ma’aseh tov.

11 But younger almanot refuse, for, when they have ta’avah (lust), in disregard of Moshiach they want nissu’in (marriage, see v.9),

12 Having harsha’ah (condemnation, conviction), because their first havtachah (promise, pledge to ministry, v.9) they annulled.

13 And at the same time also they learn atzlut, going around house to house, and not only idle but also platke machers (gossipy intriguers) and busybodies, speaking things they ought not.

14 Therefore, I counsel younger almanot to proceed with nissu’in (marriage), to bear banim, to manage the bais, giving no occasion to the mitnagged (opponent, antagonist) to reproach us.

15 For already some almanot have turned aside to follow Hasatan.

16 If any ma’aminah (believing woman) has in her mishpochah (family) almanot, let her assist her almanot and let not Moshiach’s Kehillah be burdened, that indeed Moshiach’s Kehillah may assist the ones who are true almanot [v.9].

17 Let the Zekenim (elders, see SHEMOT 12:21) who have ruled well be considered worthy of double kavod, especially the Zekenim laboring in Messianic hatafah (preaching) and Messianic hora’ah (teaching).

18 For the Kitvei HaKodesh says, LO TACHSOM SHOR BEDISHO ("You shall not muzzle the ox while he is treading out the grain" DEVARIM 25:4), and "Worthy is the workman of his wages."

19 Do not receive an accusation against a Zaken (Elder), unless on the PI SHNI EDIM O AL PI SHLOSHA EDIM ("testimony of two or three witnesses" DEVARIM 19:15).

20 The Zekenim that are sinning, expose before all, that the rest also may have yirat Shomayim.

21 I charge you before Hashem and Moshiach Yehoshua and the malachim habechirim (chosen angels) that these directives you keep without discrimination, doing nothing on the mekor (basis) of masoh panim (partiality).

22 Give s’michah quickly to no one nor participate in the chatta’im (sins) of others; keep yourself tahor.

23 No longer drink only mayim, but use a little yayin because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24 With some, their chatta’im are obvious, going before them to mishpat, but with others, some chatta’im indeed follow after them [to the Yom HaDin].

25 Likewise, also ma’asim tovim are borur (obvious), but even when they are not, they cannot be hidden.

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

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

Honour widows that are widows indeed.

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

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

11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

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

20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.