Knox Bible

1

Instead of finding fault, appeal to an older man as if he were thy father, to younger men as thy brothers,

2

to the older women, as mothers, to the younger (but with all modesty) as sisters.

3

Give widows their due, if that name really belongs to them;✻

4

if a widowed woman is left with children or grandchildren, she must be warned that their own flesh and blood has the first claim on their piety. They must make due returns to those who gave them birth; that is what God asks of them.✻

5

The woman who is indeed a widow, bereft of all help, will put her trust in God, and spend her time, night and day, upon the prayers and petitions that belong to her state;

6

one who lives in luxury would be alive and dead both at once.✻

7

Warn them of this, too, or they will bring themselves into disrepute;

8

the man who makes no provision for those nearest him, above all his own family, has contradicted the teaching of the faith, and indeed does worse than the unbelievers do.

9

If a woman is to be put on the list of widows, she must have reached, at least, the age of sixty, and have been faithful to one husband.✻

10

She must have a name for acts of charity; has she brought up children? Has she been hospitable? Has she washed the feet of the saints? Has she helped those who were in affliction? Has she attached herself to every charitable cause?

11

Have nothing to do with younger widows; they will live at their ease at Christ’s expense, and then be for marrying again,✻

12

thus incurring the guilt of breaking the promise they have made.

13

Meanwhile, they learn habits of idleness as they go from house to house; nor are they merely idle, they gossip and interfere, and say what they have no right to say.

14

So I would have the younger women marry and bear children and have households to manage; then they will give enmity no handle for speaking ill of us.

15

Already there are some who have turned aside, to follow Satan.

16

Meanwhile, if a believer has any widows depending on him, he should undertake their support, leaving the church free to support the widows who are really destitute.

17

Presbyters who have acquitted themselves well of their charge should be awarded double consideration; those especially, who bestow their pains on preaching and instruction:✻

18

there is a passage in scripture which tells us not to muzzle the ox while it is threshing grain, and the labourer has a right to expect his maintenance.✻

19

Do not take cognizance of any charge made against a presbyter, unless there are two witnesses or more.

20

Give a public rebuke to those who are living amiss, and thus put fear into the rest.✻

21

I adjure thee in the sight of God and of Jesus Christ, and the angels he has chosen, to observe these rules without rash judgement, without yielding to partiality.

22

As for the imposition of hands, do not bestow it inconsiderately, and so share the blame for the sins of others. Keep thyself clear of fault.✻

23

(No, do not confine thyself to water any longer; take a little wine to relieve thy stomach, and thy frequent attacks of illness.)✻

24

Some men have faults that are plain to view, so that they invite question; with others, discovery follows upon the heels of enquiry;

25

so it is, too, with their merits; some are plain to view, and where they are not, they cannot long remain hidden.