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¹ An elder do not reprimand, but persuade him as a father, and those who are young as thy brethren,² and the elderly women as mothers, and those who are young as thy sisters, with all purity.

³ The widows honour them who are widows in truth.⁴ And if there be a widow who hath children, or children's children, let them learn first to do justly for their families, and to repay the debts (owing) to their parents; for this is acceptable before Aloha.⁵ But she who is truly a widow and solitary (is one) whose hope is in Aloha, and who persevereth in prayer and in supplication by night and by day.⁶ But she who serveth pleasure is dead while she liveth.⁷ These things prescribe to them, that they be without blame.⁸ For if a man hath not care of them who are his own, and especially of them who are children of the household of faith, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than those who believe not.⁹ Elect, then, the widow who is not less than sixty years, who hath had one husband,¹⁰ and who hath the testimony of good works: if she have brought up children, if she have received guests, if she have washed the feet of the saints, if she have cheered the afflicted, if she have walked in every gracious work.¹¹ 11 But from the widows who are young, withhold (the election); for these become schismatical [fn] against the Meshiha, and seek to marry, ¹² and their condemnation is confirmed, because they have rejected their first fidelity.¹³ They also learn idleness, wandering from house to house; and not only idleness, but also to multiply words, and to follow vain (pursuits), and to speak things which they ought not.¹⁴ I will therefore that those who are young should marry, and bear children, and conduct their households,¹⁵ and not give to the adversary any occasion to revile. For already have some begun to turn aside after Satana.¹⁶ If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them support them, that they may not be burden-some on the church, that they who are widows indeed may have sufficient.

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