1 Timothy 5:9–16

9 A widow is to be aput on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been bthe wife of one man,

10 having a reputation for agood works; and if she has brought up children, if she has bshown hospitality to strangers, if she chas washed the 1saints’ feet, if she has dassisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.

11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel asensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married,

12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous 1pledge.

13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also agossips and bbusybodies, talking about cthings not proper to mention.

14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get amarried, bear children, bkeep house, and cgive the enemy no occasion for reproach;

15 for some ahave already turned aside to follow bSatan.

16 If any woman who is a believer ahas dependent widows, she must bassist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are cwidows indeed.