1 Timothy 5:8-19
New American Standard Bible
9A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
10having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
11But refuse to register younger widows, for when they feel physical desires alienating them from Christ, they want to get married,
12thereby incurring condemnation, because they have ignored their previous pledge.
13At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also they become gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
14Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, have children, manage their households, and give the enemy no opportunity for reproach;
15for some have already turned away to follow Satan.
16If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are actually widows.
17The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18For the Scripture says, 'YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE IT IS THRESHING,' and 'The laborer is worthy of his wages.'
19Do not accept an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
King James Version
Chapter 5
8But 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. 9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10Well 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. 11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13And 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. 14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15For some are already turned aside after Satan. 16If 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.
17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
Christian Standard Bible
9No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband,
10and is well known for good works —that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.
11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry
12and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge.
13At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say.
14Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.
15For some have already turned away to follow Satan.
16If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.
New Living Translation
9A 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.
10She 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? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?
11The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.
12Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.
13And 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.
14So 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.
15For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.
English Standard Version
9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,
10and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.
11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry
12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.
13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
15For some have already strayed after Satan.
16If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.
17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
18For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."
19Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
New International Version
9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,
10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
11As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry.
12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.
13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.
14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
15Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.
17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
18For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."
19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
New King James Version
9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
10well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
11But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
12having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.
13And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15For some have already turned aside after Satan.
16If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.
