1
Mzee usimkemee, bali umwonye kama baba; na vijana kama ndugu;
Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
2
wanawake wazee kama mama; wanawake vijana kama ndugu wa kike; katika usafi wote.
older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
3
Uwaheshimu wajane walio wajane kweli kweli.
Honor the widows who are truly widows.
4
Lakini mjane akiwa ana watoto au wajukuu, na wajifunze kwanza kuyatenda yaliyo wajibu wao kwa jamaa zao wenyewe, na kuwalipa wazazi wao. Kwa kuwa hili lakubalika mbele za Mungu.
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.
5
Basi yeye aliye mjane kweli kweli, ameachwa peke yake, huyo amemwekea Mungu tumaini lake, naye hudumu katika maombi na sala mchana na usiku.
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.
6
Bali, yeye asiyejizuia nafsi yake amekufa ingawa yu hai.
But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
7
Mambo hayo pia uyaagize, ili wasiwe na lawama.
Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
8
Lakini mtu ye yote asiyewatunza walio wake, yaani, wale wa nyumbani mwake hasa, ameikana Imani, tena ni mbaya kuliko mtu asiyeamini.
If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9
Mjane asiandikwe isipokuwa umri wake amepata miaka sitini; naye amekuwa mke wa mume mmoja;
A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,
10
naye ameshuhudiwa kwa matendo mema; ikiwa amelea watoto, ikiwa amekaribisha wageni, ikiwa amewaosha watakatifu miguu, ikiwa amewasaidia wateswao, ikiwa amefuata kwa bidii kila tendo jema.
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.
11
Bali wajane walio vijana ukatae kuwaandika hao, maana, wakizidiwa na tamaa kinyume cha Kristo, wataka kuolewa;
But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
12
nao wana hukumu kwa kuwa wameiacha imani yao ya kwanza.
and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.
13
Tena, pamoja na hayo, hujifunza kuwa wavivu, wakizunguka-zunguka nyumba kwa nyumba; wala si wavivu tu, lakini ni wachongezi na wadadisi, wakinena maneno yasiyowapasa.
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.
14
Basi napenda wajane, ambao si wazee, waolewe, wazae watoto, wawe na madaraka ya nyumbani; ili wasimpe adui nafasi ya kulaumu.
So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
15
Kwa maana wengine wamekwisha kugeuka na kumfuata Shetani.
For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
16
Mwanamke aaminiye, akiwa ana wajane, na awasaidie mwenyewe, Kanisa lisilemewe; ili liwasaidie wale walio wajane kweli kweli.
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.
17
Wazee watawalao vema na wahesabiwe kustahili heshima maradufu; hasa wao wajitaabishao kwa kuhutubu na kufundisha.
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18
Kwa maana andiko lasema, Usimfunge kinywa ng'ombe apurapo nafaka. Na tena, Mtenda kazi astahili ujira wake.
For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
19
Usikubali mashitaka juu ya mzee, ila kwa vinywa vya mashahidi wawili au watatu.
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
20
Wale wadumuo kutenda dhambi uwakemee mbele ya wote, ili na wengine waogope.
But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
21
Nakuagiza mbele za Mungu, na mbele za Kristo Yesu, na mbele za malaika wateule, uyatende hayo pasipo kuhukumu kwa haraka; usifanye neno lo lote kwa upendeleo.
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.
22
Usimwekee mtu mikono kwa haraka, wala usizishiriki dhambi za watu wengine. Ujilinde nafsi yako uwe safi.
Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23
Tokea sasa usinywe maji tu lakini tumia mvinyo kidogo, kwa ajili ya tumbo lako, na magonjwa yakupatayo mara kwa mara.
Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
24
Dhambi za watu wengine zi dhahiri, zatangulia kwenda hukumuni; wengine dhambi zao zawafuata.
The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.
25
Vivyo hivyo matendo yaliyo mazuri ya dhahiri; wala yale yasiyo dhahiri hayawezi kusitirika.
In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.