1Timothy 5-6; Psalms 21 - Prayer Tents

Advice about Widows, Elders, and Slaves

5Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.G1969G3361G4245G235G3870G5613G3962G3501G5613G80 2Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.G4245G5613G3384G3501G5613G79G1722G3956G47 3Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.G5091G5503G5503G3689 4But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.G1161G1536G5503G2192G5043G2228G1549G3129G4412G2151G2398G3624G2532G287G591G4269G1063G5124G2076G2570G2532G587G1799G2316 5Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help.G1161G5503G3689G2532G3443G1679G1909G2316G2532G4357G1162G2532G4335G3571G2532G2250 6But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives.G1161G4684G2348G2198 7Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.G2532G5023G3853G2443G5600G423 8But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.G1161G1536G4306G3756G2398G2532G3122G3609G720G4102G2532G2076G5501G571 9A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.G2639G3361G5503G2639G1640G1835G2094G1096G1135G1520G435 10She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?G3140G1722G2570G2041G1487G5044G1487G3580G1487G3538G40G4228G1487G1884G2346G1487G1872G3956G18G2041 11The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.G1161G3501G5503G3868G1063G3752G2691G5547G2309G1060 12Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.G2192G2917G3754G114G4413G4102 13And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people's business and talking about things they shouldn't.G1161G2532G260G3129G692G4022G3614G1161G3756G3440G692G235G5397G2532G2532G4021G2980G3588G1163G3361 14So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.G1014G3767G3501G1060G5041G3616G1325G3367G874G480G5484G3059 15For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.G1063G5100G1624G2235G1624G3694G4567 16If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.G1536G4103G2228G4103G2192G5503G1884G846G2532G916G3361G1577G916G2443G1884G5503G3689 17Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.G515G4245G4291G2573G515G1362G5092G3122G2872G1722G3056G2532G1319 18For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!"G1063G1124G3004G5392G3756G5392G1016G248G2532G2040G514G846G3408 19Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses.G2596G4245G3858G3361G2724G1508G1622G1909G1417G2228G5140G3144 20Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.G264G1651G1799G3956G2443G3062G2532G2192G5401 21I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.G1263G1799G2316G2532G2962G2424G5547G2532G1588G32G2443G5442G5023G5565G4299G4160G3367G2596G4346 22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.G2007G5495G5030G2007G3367G3366G2841G245G266G5083G4572G53 23Don't drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.G5202G3371G5202G235G5530G3641G3631G1223G4675G4751G2532G4675G4437G769 24Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.G5100G444G266G1526G4271G4254G1519G2920G1161G2532G5100G1872 25In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.G5615G2532G2570G2041G2076G4271G2532G2192G247G3756G1410G2928

6All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching.G1526G3745G1401G3745G1526G5259G2218G2233G2398G1203G514G3956G5092G3363G3686G2316G2532G1319G987G3363G987

False Teaching and True Riches

2If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved. Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them.G1161G2192G4103G1203G2706G3361G2706G3754G1526G80G235G3123G1398G3754G1526G4103G2532G27G482G2108G5023G1321G2532G3870 3Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.G1536G2085G2532G4334G3361G5198G3056G2257G2962G2424G5547G2532G1319G2596G2150 4Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.G5187G1987G3367G235G3552G4012G2214G2532G3055G1537G3739G1096G5355G2054G988G4190G5283 5These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.G3859G444G1311G3563G2532G650G225G3543G4200G1511G2150G575G5108G868 6Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.G1161G2150G3326G841G2076G3173G4200 7After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it.G1063G1533G3762G1519G2889G1212G3754G1410G1627G3761G5100G1627 8So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.G1161G2192G1305G2532G4629G714G5125G714 9But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.G1161G1014G4147G1706G1519G3986G2532G3803G2532G4183G453G2532G983G1939G3748G1036G444G1519G3639G2532G684 10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.G1063G5365G2076G4491G3956G2556G3739G5100G3713G635G575G4102G2532G4044G1438G4044G4183G3601

Paul’s Final Instructions

11But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.G1161G4771G5599G444G2316G5343G5023G1161G1377G1343G2150G4102G26G5281G4236 12Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.G75G2570G73G4102G1949G166G2222G1519G3739G2564G2532G2564G2532G3670G2570G3671G1799G4183G3144 13And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate,G3853G4671G3853G1799G2316G3588G2227G3956G2532G5547G2424G3588G1909G4194G4091G3140G2570G3671 14that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.G4571G5083G1785G784G423G3360G2015G2257G2962G2424G5547 15For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.G3739G2398G2540G1166G3588G3107G2532G3441G1413G935G936G2532G2962G2961 16He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.G3588G3441G2192G110G3611G5457G3762G676G3739G444G1492G3761G1410G1492G3739G5092G2532G2904G166G281 17Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.G3853G4145G1722G3568G165G5309G3361G5309G3366G1679G1909G83G4149G235G1722G2198G2316G3588G3930G2254G4146G3956G1519G619 18Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.G14G4147G1722G2570G2041G1511G2130G2843 19By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.G597G1438G2570G2310G1519G3195G2443G1949G166G2222 20Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge.G5599G5095G5442G3872G1624G952G2757G2532G477G1108G5581 21Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God's grace be with you all.G3739G5100G1861G795G4012G4102G5485G3326G4675G281

21[For the choir director: A psalm of David.] How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because you give him victory.H5329H4210H1732H4428H8055H5797H3068H3444H3966H1523 2For you have given him his heart's desire; you have withheld nothing he requested. InterludeH5414H3820H8378H4513H782H8193H5542 3You welcomed him back with success and prosperity. You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.H6923H1293H2896H7896H5850H6337H7218 4He asked you to preserve his life, and you granted his request. The days of his life stretch on forever.H7592H2416H5414H753H3117H5769H5703 5Your victory brings him great honor, and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.H3519H1419H3444H1935H1926H7737 6You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.H7896H1293H5703H2302H8057H6440 7For the king trusts in the LORD. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.H4428H982H3068H2617H5945H4131 8You will capture all your enemies. Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.H3027H4672H341H3225H4672H8130 9You will throw them in a flaming furnace when you appear. The LORD will consume them in his anger; fire will devour them.H7896H784H8574H6256H6440H3068H1104H639H784H398 10You will wipe their children from the face of the earth; they will never have descendants.H6529H6H776H2233H1121H120 11Although they plot against you, their evil schemes will never succeed.H5186H7451H2803H4209H3201 12For they will turn and run when they see your arrows aimed at them.H7896H7926H3559H4340H6440 13Rise up, O LORD, in all your power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.H7311H3068H5797H7891H2167H1369