Paul instructs Timothy on care for widows, family duty, and double honour for church elders - the pastoral blueprint from Ephesus.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

Don’t rebuke an older man but exhort him as a father The younger men as brothers the elder women as mothers The younger as sisters in all purity

Honour widows who are widows indeed But if any widow has children or grandchildren Let them learn first to show piety towards their own family And to repay their parents for this is acceptable In the sight of God

Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate Has her hope set on God and continues in petitions And prayers night and day but she who gives herself To pleasure is dead while she lives

Also command these things that they may be without reproach But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own And especially his own household He has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever

Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old Having been the wife of one man being approved By good works if she has brought up children If she has been hospitable to strangers If she has washed the saints’ feet

If she has relieved the afflicted And if she has diligently followed every good work Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour Especially those who labour in the word and in teaching For the Scripture says You shall not muzzle the ox When it treads out the grain And The labourer is worthy of his wages

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1 Timothy 5 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-06-05 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press