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| [1]Blame thou not an eldere man, but biseche as a fadir, yonge men as britheren; elde wymmen as modris, |
[1]Rebuke not an Elder, but exhort him as a father, and the younger men as brethren, |
| [2]yonge wymmen as sistris, in al chastite. |
[2]The elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all pureness. |
| [3]Honoure thou widewis, that ben very widewis. |
[3]Honor widows, which are widows indeed. |
| [4]But if ony widewe hath children of sones, lerne sche first to gouerne her hous, and quyte to fadir and modir; for this thing is acceptid bifor God. |
[4]But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show godliness toward their own house, and to recompense their kindred: for that is an honest thing and acceptable before God. |
| [5]And sche that is a widewe verili, and desolate, hope in to God, and be bisy in bisechingis and preieris niyt and dai. |
[5]And she that is a widow indeed and left alone, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. |
| [6]For sche that is lyuynge in delicis, is deed. |
[6]But she that liveth in pleasure, is dead, while she liveth. |
| [7]And comaunde thou this thing, that thei be withouten repreef. |
[7]These things therefore command, that they may be blameless. |
| [8]For if ony man hath not cure of his owne, and most of hise household men, he hath denyed the feith, and is worse than an vnfeithful man. |
[8]If there be any that provideth not for his own, and namely for them of his household, he denieth the faith, and is worse then an infidel. |
| [9]A widewe be chosun not lesse than sixti yeer, that was wijf of oon hosebonde, |
[9]Let not a widow be taken into the number under three score year old, that hath been the wife of one husband, |
| [10]and hath witnessing in good werkis, if sche nurschede children, if sche resseyuede pore men to herbore, if sche hath waischun the feet of hooli men, if sche mynystride to men that suffriden tribulacioun, if sche folewide al good werk. |
[10]And well reported of for good works: if she have nourished her children, if she have lodged the strangers, if she have washed the Saints' feet, if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity, if she were continually given unto every good work. |
| [11]But eschewe thou yongere widewis; for whanne thei han do letcherie, thei wolen be weddid in Crist, |
[11]But refuse the younger widows: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry, |
| [12]hauynge dampnacioun, for thei han maad voide the firste feith. |
[12]Having damnation, because they have broken the first faith. |
| [13]Also thei idil lernen to go aboute housis, not oneli ydel, but ful of wordis and curiouse, spekynge thingis that bihoueth not. |
[13]And likewise also being idle they learn to go about from house to house: yea, they are not only idle, but also prattlers and busybodies, speaking things which are not comely. |
| [14]Therfor Y wole, that yongere widewis be weddid, and bringe forth children, and ben hosewyues, to yyue noon occasioun to the aduersarie, bi cause of cursid thing. |
[14]I will therefore that the younger women marry, and bear children, and govern the house, and give none occasion to the adversary to speak evil. |
| [15]For now summe ben turned abak aftir Sathanas. |
[15]For certain are already turned back after Satan. |
| [16]If ony feithful man hath widewis, mynystre he to hem, that the chirche be not greuyd, that it suffice to hem that ben very widewis. |
[16]If any faithful man, or faithful woman have widows, let them minister unto them, and let not the Church be charged, that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed. |
| [17]The prestis that ben wel gouernoures, be thei had worthi to double onour; moost thei that trauelen in word and teching. |
[17]Â The Elders that rule well, are worthy of double honor, specially they which labor in the word and doctrine, |
| [18]For scripture seith, Thou schalt not bridil the mouth of the oxe threischinge, and, A werk man is worthi his hire. |
[18]For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The laborer is worthy of his wages. |
| [19]Nyle thou resseyue accusyng ayens a preest, but vndur tweyne or thre witnessis. |
[19]Against an Elder receive none accusation, but under two or three witnesses. |
| [20]But reproue thou men that synnen bifor alle men, that also othere haue drede. |
[20]Them that sin, rebuke openly, that the rest also may fear. |
| [21]Y preie bifor God, and Jhesu Crist, and hise chosun aungelis, that thou kepe these thingis with oute preiudice, and do no thing in bowynge `in to the othere side. |
[21]Â I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one to another, and do nothing partially. |
| [22]Put thou hondis to no man, nether anoon comyne thou with othere mennus synnes. Kepe thi silf chast. |
[22]Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. |
| [23]Nyle thou yit drinke watir, but vse a litil wyn, for thi stomac, and `for thin ofte fallynge infirmytees. |
[23]Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and thine often infirmities. |
| [24]Sum mennus synnes ben opyn, bifor goynge to dom; but of summen thei comen aftir. |
[24]Some men's sins are open beforehand, and go before unto judgment: but some men's follow after. |
| [25]And also goode dedis ben opyn, and tho that han hem in othere maner, moun not be hid. |
[25]Likewise also the good works are manifest beforehand, and they that are otherwise, cannot be hid. |