1不要斥責年長的，要像對待父親一樣勸他們；對待青年男子要情同手足；2對待年長的婦女要情同母親；對待青年女子要心思純正，視她們如姊妹。3要敬重和幫助那些真正有需要的寡婦。4如果寡婦有兒孫，就要叫她們的兒孫在家中學習盡孝道，奉養她們，以報答養育之恩，這是上帝所悅納的。5真正有需要、無依無靠的寡婦仰賴上帝的幫助，晝夜不住地禱告祈求。6但貪圖享受的寡婦雖然活著，卻已經死了。7你當教導眾人這些事，好叫他們無可指責。8誰不照顧自己的親屬，尤其是不照顧自己的家人，就是違背真道，比不信的人還壞。9列入名冊的寡婦必須年滿六十歲，在婚姻上從一而終，10並且在善事上有好名聲，如教養兒女、接待外人、服侍聖徒、救助困苦、竭力做各種善事。11不要把年輕的寡婦列入名冊，因為當她們情慾衝動，無法持守對基督的委身時，就想再嫁，12以致違背了起初的誓言而受審判。13況且，她們不僅懶散成性，四處串門，還說長道短，好管閒事，搬弄是非。14所以，我建議年輕的寡婦再嫁，生兒育女，料理家務，不要給仇敵毀謗的機會，15因為有些人已經偏離正道，去追隨撒旦了。16女信徒的家裡若有寡婦，就應該自己照顧她們，免得加重教會的負擔，這樣教會才能照顧那些真正無依無靠的寡婦。17那些善於管理教會的長老，尤其是那些辛勤傳道和教導人的，理當得到加倍的尊敬和報酬。18因為聖經上說：「牛在踩穀時，不可籠住牠的嘴。」又說：「做工的得報酬是應該的。」19若有人向你控告長老，必須有兩三個證人，否則不要受理。20那些一直犯罪的人，你要當眾責備他們，以警戒眾人。21我在上帝和主耶穌基督以及蒙揀選的眾天使面前吩咐你：要遵行這些話，不要有成見，不要偏心；22為人行按手禮，不要操之過急。不要沾染別人的罪，要潔身自好。23你的胃不好，經常生病，不要只喝水，要稍微喝一點酒。24有些人的罪很明顯，自招審判，有些人的罪日後才暴露出來。25同樣，有些善行很明顯，不明顯的也不會被長久埋沒。
English Standard Version
Instructions for the Church
1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.3Honor widows who are truly widows.4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.5She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,6but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.7Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.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 marry12and 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.20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.23(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)24The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.25So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
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