Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

5 Do not be angry with an older man if he has done something wrong, but talk kindly to him as you would talk to your father. Talk to the young men like brothers.

² Talk to the older women like mothers. Talk to the young women like sisters. And be sure to keep a clean mind and heart in all this.

³ Help widow women, whose husbands are dead, if they have no one to help them.

⁴ If they have children or grandchildren, they should learn that the first place to do God's work is in the home to help their own family. They should help their parents because their parents have helped them. This will please God.

⁵ A widow who has no one to help her, and is alone, trusts in God. Day and night she talks to God and asks him for the things she needs.

⁶ But a woman who spends her time in pleasing herself is really dead, even while she still lives.

⁷ Tell them these things so that they will do what is right.

⁸ A man must care for his own people. At least he must care for his family. If he does not care for them, he shows that he does not believe in God. He is worse than one who has never believed.