1 Timothy 5 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Don't come down hard on an older man. Instead, appeal to him like he's your father. Treat younger men like brothers,

older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters — with complete respect for boundaries.

Give proper recognition to widows who are truly on their own.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, those family members need to learn that real devotion to God starts at home — by giving back to their parents and grandparents. This is what pleases God.

Now, a widow who is truly on her own — with no one left — has put all her hope in God and continues asking him for help night and day.

But a widow who lives for pleasure is already dead inside, even while she's still breathing.

Make sure people know these things, so no one can point fingers at them.

If someone doesn't take care of their own family — especially the people living under their roof — they've rejected the faith and are actually worse than someone who never believed in the first place.

A widow can be put on the community's support list if she's at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.

She should be known for doing good — raising children well, welcoming strangers into her home, washing the feet of those set apart for God, helping people in trouble, and devoting herself to every kind of good work.

But don't put younger widows on the list. When their desires pull them away from The One, they'll want to get married again,

and then they'll be judged for breaking their original commitment.

On top of that, they pick up the habit of going from house to house doing nothing. And it's not just idleness — they become gossips and busybodies, talking about things they shouldn't.

So here's what I want: younger widows should get married again, have children, manage their households, and give the opposition zero ammunition to use against us.

Some have already wandered off to follow the Adversary.

If any believing woman has widows in her family, she should take care of them herself so the gathered community isn't burdened. That way the community's resources can go to widows who truly have no one.

Leaders who do their job well deserve double the recognition — especially those who work hard at teaching and communicating the message.

The Scripture says, "Don't muzzle an ox while it's working the grain," and "A worker deserves their pay."

Don't accept an accusation against a leader unless two or three people can back it up.

But those leaders who keep failing — call them out in front of everyone, so the rest will take it seriously.

I'm charging you — in the presence of God, of The One Jesus, and of the chosen messengers — to follow these instructions without playing favorites or showing bias toward anyone.

Don't be too quick to lay hands on anyone to affirm them as leaders, and don't get dragged into other people's failures. Keep yourself clean.

(By the way — stop drinking only water. Use a little wine for your stomach, since you get sick so often.)

Some people's failures are obvious — they arrive at judgment before the person does. But for others, their failures only show up later.

It works the same way with good work — some of it is obvious right away, and even what isn't can't stay hidden forever.