1 Timothy 5:3–16

³Honour widows who are really widows; ⁴but if any widow have children or descendants, let them learn first to be pious as regards their own house, and to render a return on their side to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. ⁵Now she who is a widow indeed, and is left alone, has put her hope in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁶But she that lives in habits of self-indulgence is dead while living. ⁷And these things enjoin, that they may be irreproachable. ⁸But if any one does not provide for his own, and specially for those of his house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than the unbeliever. ⁹Let a widow be put upon the list, being of not less than sixty years, having been wife of one man, ¹⁰borne witness to in good works, if she have brought up children, if she have exercised hospitality, if she have washed saints’ feet, if she have imparted relief to the distressed, if she have diligently followed every good work. ¹¹But younger widows decline; for when they grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, ¹²being guilty, because they have cast off their first faith. ¹³And, at the same time, they learn also to be idle, going about to people’s houses; and not only idle, but also gossipers and meddlers, speaking things not becoming. ¹⁴I will therefore that the younger marry, bear children, rule the house, give no occasion to the adversary in respect of reproach. ¹⁵For already some have turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶If any believing man or woman have widows, let them impart relief to them, and let not the assembly be charged, that it may impart relief to those that are widows indeed.