1 Timothy 5:9–16

⁹No widow should be placed on the official support list ^junless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband, ¹⁰and is well known for good works ^k—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, ^lwashed the saints’ feet, ^mhelped the afflicted, ⁿand devoted herself to every good work. ^o11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry ^p12and will therefore receive condemnation ^qbecause 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 ^rand busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say. ¹⁴Therefore, I want younger women to marry, ^shave children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. ^t15For some have already turned away ^uto follow Satan. ¹⁶If any ^vbelieving woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.