1Ti 5:3-25 | ESV | STEP | Honor widows who are truly widows .

3 Honor widows ^awho are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn ^bto show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for ^cthis is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She ^dwho is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and ^econtinues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but ^fshe who is self-indulgent is ^gdead even while she lives. 7 ^hCommand these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for ⁱmembers of his household, he has ^jdenied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been ^kthe wife of one husband, ^{▼▼Or a woman of one man} 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has ^mshown hospitality, ⁿhas washed the feet of the saints, has ^ocared for the afflicted, and has ^pdevoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when ^qtheir 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 ^rgossips and ^sbusybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have ^tyounger widows marry, bear children, ^umanage their households, and ^vgive the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 ^wFor 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 ^xwho are truly widows.

17 Let the elders ^ywho rule well be considered worthy of ^zdouble honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, ^aa“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ^ab“The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except ^acon the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, ^adrebuke them in the presence of all, ^aeso that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels ^afI charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, ^agdoing nothing from partiality. 22 ^ahDo not be hasty in the ^ailaying on of hands, nor ^ajtake part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but ^akuse a little wine ^alfor the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and ^ameven those that are not cannot remain hidden.