1 Timothy 5:4

5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty ¹  toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. ²  For this is what pleases God. ³ 

1 Timothy 5:16

5:16 If a believing woman ⁴  has widows in her family, ⁵  let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need. ⁶ 

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¹ tn Or “to practice their religion.”

² tn Or “and so make some repayment to their parents”; Grk “and to give back recompense to their parents.”

³ tn Grk “for this is pleasing in the sight of God.”

⁴ tc Most witnesses (D Ψ Ï sy) have πιστὸς ἤ (pisto" h) before πιστή (pisth), with the resultant meaning “if a believing man or woman.” But such looks to be a motivated reading, perhaps to bring some parity to the responsibilities of men and women listed here, and as a way of harmonizing with v. 4. Further, most of the earliest and best witnesses (א A C F G P 048 33 81 1175 1739 1881 co) lack the πιστὸς ἤ, strengthening the preference for the shorter reading.

⁵ tn Grk “has widows.”

⁶ tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”