| 弟茂德前書 |
1 Timothy |
| 1不要嚴責老年人，但要勸他如勸父親；勸青年人如勸弟兄； |
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers, |
| 2勸老婦如勸母親；以完全純潔的心；勸青年女子如勸姊妹。 |
2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters with complete purity. |
| 3要敬重寡婦，即那些真正做寡婦的。 |
3Honor widows who are truly widows. |
| 4假使寡婦有兒子或孫子，他們就應先學着孝敬本家人，報答祖先，因為這是天主所喜悅的事。 |
4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let these first learn to perform their religious duty to their own family and to make recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing to God. |
| 5那真正做寡婦的，孤獨無依，已寄望於天主，黑夜白日常在懇求和祈禱； |
5The real widow, who is all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. |
| 6但那任性縱慾的寡婦，雖生猶死。 |
6But the one who is self-indulgent is dead while she lives. |
| 7你要拿這些話去勸戒，使她們無可指摘。 |
7Command this, so that they may be irreproachable. |
| 8如有人不照顧自己的戚族，尤其不照顧自己的家人，即是背棄信德，比不信的人更壞。 |
8And whoever does not provide for relatives and especially family members has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. |
| 9錄用一個寡婦，年紀不要少過六十歲，且只做過一個丈夫的妻子， |
9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years old, married only once, |
| 10又必須有行善的聲望，如：教育過兒女，款待過旅客，洗過聖徒的腳，賙濟過遭難的人，勤行過各種善工。 |
10with a reputation for good works, namely, that she has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the holy ones, helped those in distress, involved herself in every good work. |
| 11至於年輕的寡婦，你要拒絕錄用，因為當她們情慾衝動違背基督的時候，便想再嫁； |
11But exclude younger widows, for when their sensuality estranges them from Christ, they want to marry |
| 12這樣必招致懲罰，因為她們擯棄了起初的信誓； |
12and will incur condemnation for breaking their first pledge. |
| 13同時她們又游手好閒，習慣串門踏戶；不但游手好閒，而且還饒舌不休，好管閒事，說些不當說的話。 |
13And furthermore, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies as well, talking about things that ought not to be mentioned. |
| 14所以我要年輕的寡婦再嫁，生養兒女，治理家務，不給敵人以誹謗的任何藉口， |
14So I would like younger widows to marry, have children, and manage a home, so as to give the adversary no pretext for maligning us. |
| 15因為有些已轉身隨從了撒殫。 |
15For some have already turned away to follow Satan. |
| 16若女信徒家中有寡婦，就應供養她們，不可加重教會的負擔，為教會能供養那些真正的寡婦。 |
16If any woman believer has widowed relatives, she must assist them; the church is not to be burdened, so that it will be able to help those who are truly widows. |
| 17那些善於督導的長老，尤其那些出力講道和施教的人，堪受加倍的敬奉， |
17 Presbyters who preside well deserve double honor, especially those who toil in preaching and teaching. |
| 18因為經上記載：「牛在打場的時候，不可籠住牠的嘴」；又說：「工人自當有他的工資。」 |
18For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is threshing," and, "A worker deserves his pay." |
| 19反對長老的控告，除非有兩三個證人，你不可受理。 |
19Do not accept an accusation against a presbyter unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. |
| 20犯罪的人，你要在眾人前加以斥責，為叫其餘的人有所警惕。 |
20Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the rest also will be afraid. |
| 21我在天主與基督耶穌，以及蒙選的天使前懇求你，要遵守這些話，不可存成見，做事也不可有偏心。 |
21I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to keep these rules without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. |
| 22不可輕易給人覆手；不可在別人的罪上有份子，務要守身清白。 |
22Do not lay hands too readily on anyone, and do not share in another's sins. Keep yourself pure. |
| 23至於你，你以後不要單喝清水，為了你的胃病和你屢次生病，卻要用點酒。 |
23Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. |
| 24有些人的罪過，在受審以前便是顯明的，但有些人的罪過只在受審以後； |
24Some people's sins are public, preceding them to judgment; but other people are followed by their sins. |
| 25同樣，善工也是顯明的；即使不明顯，也不能隱瞞住。 |
25Similarly, good works are also public; and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. |
