5:1 Do not address an older man harshly 1 but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers, 2 5:2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters – with complete purity.
5:3 Honor 3 widows who are truly in need. 4 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty 5 toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. 6 For this is what pleases God. 7 5:5 But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, 8 has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day. 5:6 But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even 9 while she lives. 5:7 Reinforce 10 these commands, 11 so that they will be beyond reproach.