1 Timothy 5:3–16

THE SUPPORT OF WIDOWS

³Support^D widows^e who are genuinely in need. ⁴But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. ⁵The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God^f and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; ⁶however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.^{g 7}Command this also, so that they will be above reproach. ⁸But if anyone does not provide^h for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faithⁱ and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband, ¹⁰and is well known for good works^j—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality,^k washed the saints’ feet,^l helped the afflicted,^m and devoted herself to every good work.^{n 11}But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry^{o 12}and will therefore receive condemnation^p because they have renounced their original pledge. ¹³At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips^q and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say. ¹⁴Therefore, I want younger women to marry,^r have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.^{s 15}For some have already turned away^t to follow Satan. ¹⁶If any^A believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.