5 Do not speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,  2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
    3 Honor and support widows who are genuinely in need.  4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to do their duty to their own family and repay their parents, because this is pleasing to God.  5 The widow who is really in need, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues night and day in requests and prayers.  6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Keep commanding these things, so that widows and their families may be beyond blame.  8 But if someone does not provide for his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
    9 A widow may be placed on the support list if she is at least sixty years old and has been the wife of one husband. [1334]  10 She must be known for good works — that is, if she has brought up her children well, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints,[1335] helped those in distress — if she has devoted herself to doing good in every way. 11 But do not put younger widows on the list; for if they are drawn away from Messiah by sensual desire, they want to get married  12 and will receive condemnation for breaking their previous pledge. [1336] 13 At the same time they also learn to be lazy, going around from house to house. They become not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not. 14 So I want younger women to get married, raise children, and manage their households, and give the Adversary no reason to accuse us. 15 For some have already wandered away to follow Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are genuinely in need.
    17 The elders who lead well should be considered worthy of double honor and financial compensation, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless two or three witnesses support it. 20 Publicly rebuke those elders who continue in sin so that the rest will be afraid. 21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and Messiah Jesus and the chosen angels to obey these instructions without prejudice or any favoritism. 22 Do not be too hasty to appoint someone an elder and so share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
    23 Stop drinking only water, but drink a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
    24 Some people’s sins are obvious, going ahead of them leading to judgment. Other people’s sins appear later. 25 So also good works are obvious, and even those which are not obvious cannot remain hidden.