The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

 1 ^aRebuke not an elder, but ^bentreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

 2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as ^asisters, with all purity.

 3 Honour ^awidows that are widows indeed.

 4 But if any widow have ^achildren or ^bnephews, let them learn first to shew ^cpiety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

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

 6 But she that liveth ^ain ^bpleasure is dead while she liveth.

 7 And these things ^agive in charge, that they may be blameless.

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

 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years ^aold, having been the wife of one man,

 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have ^alodged strangers, if she have ^bwashed the saints’ ^cfeet, 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 ^adamnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

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

 14 I ^awill therefore that the younger ^bwomen marry, bear ^cchildren, guide the ^dhouse, 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 ^arelieve them, and let not the church be ^bcharged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

 17 Let the ^aelders 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 ^amuzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The ^blabourer is worthy of his ^creward.

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

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

 21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect ^aangels, that thou observe these things ^bwithout preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

 22 ^aLay ^bhands suddenly on no ^cman, neither be ^dpartaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself ^epure.

 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 ^afollow after.

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