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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 5:3 Lit Honor

Honor widows who are truly widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to show profound respect for their own household first, and to pay back recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. But the widow who is one truly, and is left alone, has put her hope in God and continues in her petitions and prayers night and day. But the one who lives for sensual pleasure is dead even though she[a] lives. And command these things, in order that they may be irreproachable. But if someone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially the members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 5:6 Here “even though” is supplied as a component of the participle (“lives”) which is understood as concessive