The Support of Widows

Support[a] widows(A) who are genuinely in need. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God(B) and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.(C) Command this also, so that they will be above reproach. But if anyone does not provide(D) for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith(E) and is worse than an unbeliever.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:3 Lit Honor

Honor widows who have no other family members to care for them.[a] But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to respect their own family by repaying their parents, for this is pleasing in God’s sight. A woman who has no other family members to care for her[b] and who is left all alone has placed her hope in God and devotes herself to petitions and prayers night and day. But the self-indulgent widow[c] is just as good as dead.

Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless. If anyone does not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 5:3 Lit. who are really widows
  2. 1 Timothy 5:5 Lit. who is really a widow
  3. 1 Timothy 5:6 Lit. the one