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1 Timothy 5:17–20

Honor the Elders

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, f“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, g“The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except hfrom two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

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1 Timothy 5:17–20 — The New International Version (NIV)

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — English Standard Version (ESV)

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For 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!”

19 Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — New Century Version (NCV)

17 The elders who lead the church well should receive double honor, especially those who work hard by speaking and teaching, 18 because the Scripture says: “When an ox is working in the grain, do not cover its mouth to keep it from eating,” and “A worker should be given his pay.”

19 Do not listen to someone who accuses an elder, without two or three witnesses. 20 Tell those who continue sinning that they are wrong. Do this in front of the whole church so that the others will have a warning.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — American Standard Version (ASV)

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire. 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

17 Let the elders who take the lead among the saints well be esteemed worthy of double honour, specially those labouring in word and teaching; 18 for the scripture says, Thou shalt not muzzle an ox that treadeth out corn, and, The workman is worthy of his hire. 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation unless where there are two or three witnesses. 20 Those that sin convict before all, that the rest also may have fear.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

17 Give double honor to spiritual leaderswho handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word. 18 After all, Scripture says, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshinggrain,” and “The worker deserves his pay.” 

19 Don’t pay attention to an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Reprimand those leaders who sin. Do it in front of everyone so that the other leaders will also be afraid. 

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

17 The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 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 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; 18 for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, The laborer deserves to be paid.” 19 Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

17 The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching. 18 For the scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox while it is threshing,” and “The worker is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 Reprove those who sin in the presence of all, in order that the rest also may experience fear.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

17 The elders who do the church’s work well are worth twice as much honor. That is true in a special way of elders who preach and teach. 18 Scripture says, “Do not stop the ox from eating while it helps separate the grain from the straw.” Scripture also says, “Workers are worthy of their pay.”

19 Don’t believe a charge against an elder unless two or three witnesses bring it. 20 Elders who sin should be corrected in front of the other believers. That will be a warning to the others.

1 Timothy 5:17–20 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.


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