³Take care of the widows who really need help. ⁴But suppose a widow has children or grandchildren. They should first learn to put their faith into practice. They should care for their own family. In that way they will pay back their parents and grandparents. That pleases God.

⁵The widow who really needs help and is left all alone puts her hope in God. Night and day she keeps on praying. Night and day she asks God for help. ⁶But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still living.

⁷Give those directions to the people also. Then no one can be blamed. ⁸Everyone should provide for his own relatives. Most of all, everyone should take care of his own family. If he doesn’t, he has left the faith. He is worse than someone who doesn’t believe.

⁹No widow should be put on the list of widows unless she is more than 60 years old. She must also have been faithful to her husband. ¹⁰She must be well known for the good things she does. That includes bringing up children. It includes inviting guests into her home. It includes washing the feet of God’s people. It includes helping those who are in trouble. A widow should spend her time doing all kinds of good things.

Read in Logos

1 Timothy 5:4: But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.