1 Timothy 5:1-25 CEB

[1] Don’t correct an older man, but encourage him like he’s your father; treat younger men like your brothers, [2] treat older women like your mother, and treat younger women like your sisters with appropriate respect. [3] Take care of widows who are truly needy. [4] But if a particular widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to respect their own family and repay their parents, because this pleases God. [5] A widow who is truly needy and all alone puts her hope in God and keeps on going with requests and prayers, night and day. [6] But a widow who tries to live a life of luxury is dead even while she is alive. [7] Teach these things so that the families will be without fault. [8] But if someone doesn’t provide for their own family, and especially for a member of their household, they have denied the faith. They are worse than those who have no faith. [9] Put a widow on the list who is older than 60 years old and who was faithful to her husband. [10] She should have a reputation for doing good: raising children, providing hospitality to strangers, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in distress, and dedicating herself to every kind of good thing. [11] But don’t accept younger widows for the list. When their physical desires distract them from Christ, they will want to get married. [12] Then they will be judged for setting aside their earlier commitment. [13] Also, they learn to be lazy by going from house to house. They are not only lazy, but they also become gossips and busybodies, talking about things they shouldn’t. [14] So I want younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their homes so that they won’t give the enemy any reason to slander us. ( [15] Some have already turned away to follow Satan.) [16] If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should take care of them and not burden the church, so that it can help other widows who are truly needy. [17] Elders who lead well should be paid double, especially those who work with public speaking and teaching. [18] The scripture says, “Don’t put a muzzle on an ox while it treads grain”, and “Workers deserve their pay”. [19] Don’t accept an accusation made against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. [20] Discipline those who are sinning in front of everyone so that all the others will be afraid. [21] I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to follow these practices without bias, and without playing favorites. [22] Don’t rush to commission anyone to leadership, and don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure. [23] Don’t drink water anymore, but use a little wine because of your stomach problems and your frequent illnesses. [24] The sins of some people are obvious, and the sins are judged before the people must face judgment, but the sins of other people show up later. [25] In the same way, the good that people do is also obvious and can’t be hidden.