1 Chide not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men, as thy brothers;
2 and the elder women, as mothers; and the younger women, as thy sisters, with all purity.
3 Honor widows, who are truly widows.
4 But if a widow hath children, or grandchildren, let them first learn to show kindness to their own households, and to repay the obligations to their parents; for this is acceptable before God.
5 Now she who is truly a widow, and solitary, her hope is in God; and she persevereth in prayers, and in supplications, by night and by day:
6 But she who followeth pleasure, is dead while she liveth.
7 These things enjoin thou on them, that they may be blameless.
8 But if any one careth not for them who are his own, and especially for them who are of the household of faith, he hath rejected the faith, and is worse than the unbelievers.
9 Therefore elect thou the widow, who is not less than sixty years [old], and who hath been the wife of one man,
10 and hath a reputation for good works; if she have trained up children, if she have entertained strangers, if she have washed the feet of saints, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have walked in every good work.
11 But the younger widows do thou reject; for they wax wanton against the Messiah, and desire to be married:
12 and their condemnation is fixed, because they have cast off their former faith.
13 And they also learn idleness, wandering from house to house; and not only idleness, but also to talk much, and to pursue vanities, and to utter what they ought not.
14 I would therefore, that the younger women marry, and bear children, and regulate their houses; and that they give no occasion to the adversary for reproach.
15 For some have already begun to turn aside after Satan.
16 If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them support them; and let them not be a burden on the church; so that there may be a sufficiency for such as are really widows.
17 Let the elders who conduct themselves well, be esteemed worthy of double honor; especially they who labor in the word and in doctrine.
18 For the scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the ox in threshing; and, The laborer is worthy of his pay.
19 Against an elder, receive not a complaint, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses.
20 Those who sin before all rebuke; that the rest of the people may fear.
21 I charge thee, before God, and our Lord Jesus the Messiah, and his elect angels, that thou observe these things; and let not your mind be preoccupied by any thing: and do nothing with a respect for persons.
22 Lay not the hand hastily on any man; and participate not in the sins of others; keep thyself pure.
23 And hereafter drink not water, but drink a little wine; on account of thy stomach, and thy continuing infirmities.
24 There are persons, whose sins are known, and go before them to the place of judgment; and there are some, whom they follow after.
25 So also good deeds are known: and those which are otherwise cannot be hid.
|
