Widows, Elders and Slaves
1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
3Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 8Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
11As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. 14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.
16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”5:18 Deut. 25:4 and “The worker deserves his wages.”5:18 Luke 10:7 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
24The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
Obuvunaanyizibwa bw’abakkiriza
15:1 a Tit 2:2 b Lv 19:32 c Tit 2:6Tokambuwaliranga musajja mukulu, wabula omubuuliriranga nga kitaawo. Abavubuka bayisenga nga baganda bo, 2abakazi abakadde bayisenga ng’abazadde bo, abato nga bannyoko, ng’omutima gwo mulongoofu ddala.
35:3 nny 5, 16Bannamwandu ddala, bassengamu ekitiibwa. 45:4 a Bef 6:1, 2 b 1Ti 2:3Nnamwandu bw’abanga n’abaana oba abazzukulu basookenga okuyiga ebyo ebikolebwa mu maka ge waabwe, nga bassaayo omwoyo ku bazadde baabwe era n’okubalabirira. Kubanga ekyo kisanyusa Katonda. 55:5 a nny 3, 16 b 1Ko 7:34; 1Pe 3:5 c Luk 2:37Oyo aba nnamwandu ddala, asigadde yekka, essuubi lye aba alitadde mu Katonda, era anyiikire okwegayirira n’okusaba Katonda emisana n’ekiro. 65:6 Luk 15:24Kyokka oyo nnamwandu eyeemalira mu masanyu, aba ng’afudde, newaakubadde ng’akyali mulamu. 75:7 1Ti 4:11Ebyo bibalagire, baleme kubaako kya kunenyezebwa. 85:8 2Pe 2:1; Yud 4; Tit 1:16Naye omuntu yenna bw’atalabirira bantu be, na ddala ab’omu nnyumba ye, aba yeegaanyi okukkiriza, era aba mubi okusinga atakkiriza.
9Nnamwandu awezezza emyaka enkaaga ye yekka anaawandiikibwanga ku lukalala lwa bannamwandu. Era ateekwa kuba nga yafumbirwa omusajja omu, 105:10 a Bik 9:36; 1Ti 6:18; 1Pe 2:12 b Luk 7:44 c nny 16nga yakolanga ebikolwa ebirungi, oba nga yaleranga abaana, oba nga yayanirizanga abagenyi, oba nga yanaazanga abatukuvu ebigere, oba nga yayambanga abanyigirizibwa, era oba nga yeewangayo nnyo okukola obulungi mu buli ngeri.
11Naye bannamwandu abakyali abato, tokkirizanga okubateeka ku lukalala lwa bannamwandu, kubanga omubiri bwe gulibalemesa okweweerayo ddala eri Kristo, balyagala okufumbirwa, 12bwe batyo ne bessaako omusango olw’obutatuukiriza ekyo kye baasooka okusuubiza. 135:13 2Bs 3:11N’ekirala bayiga okubeera abagayaavu ne batambulatambula mu buli nnyumba, so si bugayaavu kyokka, naye era balina olugambo, era beeyingiza mu bitali byabwe ne boogera n’ebitasaana. 145:14 a 1Ko 7:9 b 1Ti 6:1Kyenva njagala bannamwandu abato bafumbirwenga, bazaale abaana, era balabirire amaka gaabwe, baleme kuwa mulabe kkubo lya kutwogerako kibi. 155:15 Mat 4:10Kubanga bannamwandu abamu bakyamye ne bagoberera Setaani.
165:16 nny 3-5Naye bwe wabaawo omukkiriza alina bannamwandu ab’olulyo lwe abalabirirenga, Ekkanisa ereme okuzitoowererwa, kiryoke kisoboke okulabirira bannamwandu abataliiko abayamba.
175:17 a Bik 11:30 b Baf 2:29; 1Bs 5:12Abakulembeze abafuga basaanidde okuweebwanga ekitiibwa kingi, na ddala abo abanyiikira ennyo mu kubuulira n’okuyigiriza ekigambo kya Katonda. 185:18 a Ma 25:4; 1Ko 9:7-9 b Luk 10:7; Lv 19:13; Ma 24:14, 15; Mat 10:10; 1Ko 9:14Kubanga Ekyawandiikibwa kigamba nti, “Ente ng’ewuula eŋŋaano, togisibanga mumwa.” Era nti, “Omukozi asaanira okusasulwa empeera ye.” 195:19 a Bik 11:30 b Mat 18:16Tokkirizanga ebyo bye bavunaana omukulembeze okuggyako nga biriko abajulirwa babiri oba basatu. 205:20 a 2Ti 4:2; Tit 1:13 b Ma 13:11Kyokka abo aboonoona banenyezenga mu lwatu, abalala balyoke batye. 215:21 1Ti 6:13; 2Ti 4:1Nkukuutirira mu maaso ga Katonda ne Kristo Yesu, ne bamalayika abalonde okugobereranga ebyo, nga teweekubira wadde okusaliriza.
225:22 a Bik 6:6 b Bef 5:11Toyanguyirizanga kussaako mikono ku muntu yenna, so tossanga kimu na bibi by’abalala; weekuumenga ng’oli mulongoofu.
235:23 1Ti 3:8Lekeraawo okunywanga amazzi gokka, naye nywanga ne ku wayini mutono olw’olubuto lwo, n’olw’okulwalalwala kwo.
24Ebibi by’abantu abamu birabika lwatu nga tebannasalirwa musango kubasinga, naye eby’abalala birabika luvannyuma. 25N’ebikolwa ebirungi nabyo bwe bityo birabika lwatu; ne bwe biba tebirabise lwatu, tebiyinza kukwekebwa bbanga lyonna.
