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¹ You may not rebuke an elder, but exhort [him] as a father, younger persons as brothers,² aged women as mothers, younger ones as sisters—in all purity;

³ honor widows who are really widows;⁴ and if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety to their own house, and to give back a repayment to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God.⁵ And she who is really a widow and desolate, has hoped on God, and remains in the supplications and in the prayers night and day,⁶ but she given to luxury [while] living has died;⁷ and charge these things, that they may be blameless;⁸ and if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of the household, he has denied the faith, and he is worse than an unbeliever.⁹ A widow—do not let her be enrolled under sixty years of age, having been a wife of one husband,¹⁰ being testified to in good works: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if she washed holy ones' feet, if she relieved those in tribulation, if she followed after every good work;¹¹ and be refusing younger widows, for when they may revel against the Christ, they wish to marry,¹² having judgment, because they cast away the first faith,¹³ and also at the same time, they learn [to be] idle, going around the houses; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking things they should not;¹⁴ I intend, therefore, younger ones to marry, to bear children, to be mistress of the house, to give no occasion to the opposer of reviling;¹⁵ for some already turned aside after Satan.¹⁶ If any believing man or believing woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the assembly be burdened, that it may relieve those [who are] really widows.

¹⁷ Let them, the well-leading elders, be counted worthy of double honor, especially those laboring in word and teaching,¹⁸ for the Writing says, "You will not muzzle an ox treading out," and, "Worthy [is] the workman of his reward."¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except on two or three witnesses.²⁰ Reprove those sinning before all, that the others may also have fear;²¹ I fully testify, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen messengers, that you may keep these things, without prejudging, doing nothing by partiality.²² Be quickly laying hands on no one, nor be having fellowship with [the] sins of others; be keeping yourself pure;²³ no longer be drinking water, but be using a little wine, because of your stomach and of your frequent sicknesses;²⁴ the sins of certain men are evident beforehand, leading before to judgment, but some also they follow after;²⁵ in like manner the right works are also evident beforehand, and those that are otherwise are not able to be hid.