1 You should not rebuke an elder, but exhort as a father; youths as brothers,2 matrons as mothers, damsels as sisters with all purity.3 Honor widows, those who really are widows.4 And if any widow has child or grandchild, they must first learn piety at home and to return compensation to their ancestors. For this is acceptable before Yahweh.5 Now she who is really a widow and being alone has hope in Yahweh and continues in supplication and prayers night and day.6 But she living lewdly is living dead.7 And you transmit these things in order that they would be irreproachable.8 Now if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially of kin, he has denied the faith and is inferior to one of the faithless.9 A widow must not be enrolled less than sixty years old, who had been a wife of one husband,10 being accredited with good works: if she had raised children, if she was hospitable to strangers, if she washed the feet of saints, if she succored the afflicted, if she complied in every good deed.11 But younger widows you must excuse, for when they behave wantonly towards the anointed, they desire to marry12 with judgment because they have set aside that former assurance.13 And then at the same time they learn to be sloths, going about the houses, and not only sloths but babblers and meddlers, speaking unnecessary things.14 Therefore I prefer younger women to marry, to bear children, to rule the household; to give not any occasion to the opposition for cause of abuse.15 For already some have turned aside after the Adversary.16 If anyone faithful keeps widows, they must assist them and not burden the assembly, in order that it may assist those who are really widows.17 Those elders having governed rightly are worthy of double honor, especially those toiling in the word and in teaching.18 For the writings say: "You shall not muzzle a treading ox" and "worthy is the workman of his wage."19 An accusation against an elder you must not receive publicly, except "by two or three witnesses."20 Those wrongdoers you censure before all, in order that the rest also would have fear.21 I solemnly appeal, before Yahweh and Christ Yahshua and the chosen messengers, that you would keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing in accordance with partiality.22 Lay hands hastily upon no one, nor partake in another's wrongdoings. Keep yourself pure.23 No longer drink water only, rather you must use a little wine for sake of the stomach, and your frequent sicknesses.24 The errors of some men are manifest beforehand, going ahead to judgment, but others then follow after.25 In like manner also are the good works manifest, and those being otherwise are not able to be concealed.