9. Do not add any widow to the list of widows unless she is over sixty years of age. In addition, she must have been married only once
10. and have a reputation for good deeds: a woman who brought up her children well, received strangers in her home, performed humble duties for fellow-Christians, helped people in trouble, and devoted herself to doing good.
11. But do not include younger widows in the list; because when their desires make them want to marry, they turn away from Christ,
12. and so become guilty of breaking their earlier promise to him.
13. They also learn to waste their time in going round from house to house; but even worse, they learn to be gossips and busybodies, talking of things they should not.
14. So I would prefer that the younger widows get married, have children, and take care of their homes, so as to give our enemies no chance of speaking evil of us.
15. For some widows have already turned away to follow Satan.