1 Timothy 5:9-16

English Standard Version

⁹ Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been ^(A)the wife of one husband,^{[a] 10} and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has ^(B)shown hospitality, ^(C)has washed the feet of the saints, has ^(D)cared for the afflicted, and has ^(E)devoted herself to every good work. ¹¹ But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when ^(F)their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry ¹² and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. ¹³ Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also ^(G)gossips and ^(H)busybodies, saying what they should not. ¹⁴ So I would have ^(I)younger widows marry, bear children, ^(J)manage their households, and ^(K)give the adversary no occasion for slander. ^15 (L)For some have already strayed after Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those ^(M)who are truly widows.