1 Timothy 5

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

1 不可嚴責老年人，只要勸他如同父親；勸少年人如同弟兄；

2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

2 勸老年婦女如同母親；勸少年婦女如同姊妹；總要清清潔潔的。

3 Honor the widows who are truly widows.

3 要尊敬那真為寡婦的。

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

4 若寡婦有兒女，或有孫子孫女，便叫他們先在自己家中學着行孝，報答親恩，因為這在上帝面前是可悅納的。

5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.

5 那獨居無靠、真為寡婦的，是仰賴上帝，晝夜不住地祈求禱告。

6 But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.

6 但那好宴樂的寡婦正活着的時候也是死的。

7 Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.

7 這些事你要囑咐她們，叫她們無可指責。

8 If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

8 人若不看顧親屬，就是背了真道，比不信的人還不好，不看顧自己家裏的人，更是如此。

9 A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,

9 寡婦記在冊子上，必須年紀到六十歲，從來只作一個丈夫的妻子，

10 and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

10 又有行善的名聲，就如養育兒女，接待遠人，洗聖徒的腳，救濟遭難的人，竭力行各樣善事。

11 But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,

11 至於年輕的寡婦，就可以辭她；因為她們的情慾發動，違背基督的時候就想要嫁人。

12 and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.

12 她們被定罪，是因廢棄了當初所許的願；

13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.

13 並且她們又習慣懶惰，挨家閒遊；不但是懶惰，又說長道短，好管閒事，說些不當說的話。

14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

14 所以我願意年輕的寡婦嫁人，生養兒女，治理家務，不給敵人辱罵的把柄。

15 For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

15 因為已經有轉去隨從撒但的。

16 If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.

16 信主的婦女，若家中有寡婦，自己就當救濟她們，不可累着教會，好使教會能救濟那真無倚靠的寡婦。

17 Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

17 那善於管理教會的長老，當以為配受加倍的敬奉；那勞苦傳道教導人的，更當如此。

18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

18 因為經上說：「牛在場上踹穀的時候，不可籠住牠的嘴」；又說：「工人得工價是應當的。」

19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

19 控告長老的呈子，非有兩三個見證就不要收。

20 But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

20 犯罪的人，當在眾人面前責備他，叫其餘的人也可以懼怕。

21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.

21 我在上帝和基督耶穌並蒙揀選的天使面前囑咐你：要遵守這些話，不可存成見，行事也不可有偏心。

22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

22 給人行按手的禮，不可急促；不要在別人的罪上有分，要保守自己清潔。

23 Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

23 因你胃口不清，屢次患病，再不要照常喝水，可以稍微用點酒。

24 The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.

24 有些人的罪是明顯的，如同先到審判案前；有些人的罪是隨後跟了去的。

25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.

25 這樣，善行也有明顯的，那不明顯的也不能隱藏。