[87] Bhikkhus, an elder (thera) possessing five qualities is dear and agreeable to his fellows in the holy life (brahmacariya), respected and esteemed. What five? He is virtuous; he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults; having undertaken the training rules, he trains in them. He is learned (bahussuta), a retainer of what he has heard, an accumulator of what he has heard: those teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, which with meaning and with phrasing proclaim the holy life that is utterly complete and pure — such teachings he has learned much of, retained, recited verbally, examined with the mind, and well penetrated by view. He is of good speech, of good delivery, endowed with speech that is urbane, distinct, faultless, and conveying the meaning. He gains at will, without trouble, without difficulty, the four jhānas that pertain to the higher mind and are pleasant abidings in this very life. With the destruction of the taints (āsava), he realizes for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind (cetovimutti) and liberation by wisdom (paññāvimutti), and having entered upon it, he dwells therein. Bhikkhus, an elder bhikkhu possessing these five qualities is dear and agreeable to his fellows in the holy life, respected and esteemed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.