1 L et as many bondmen as are under yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and the teaching be not blasphemed.

Let all who are under the yoke as bond servants esteem their own masters worthy of honor and fullest respect, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be brought into disrepute and blasphemed.

2 A nd they that have believing masters, let them not despise because they are brethren; but let them the rather serve them with subjection, because they are faithful and beloved, who profit by the good and ready service. These things teach and exhort.

Let those who have believing masters not be disrespectful or scornful on the grounds that they are brothers; rather, they should serve because those who benefit by their kindly service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties.

3 I f any one teach differently, and do not accede to sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the teaching which according to piety,

But if anyone teaches otherwise and does not assent to the sound and wholesome messages of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and the teaching which is in agreement with godliness (piety toward God),

4 h e is puffed up, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and disputes of words, out of which arise envy, strife, injurious words, evil suspicions,

He is puffed up with pride and stupefied with conceit, woefully ignorant. He has a morbid fondness for controversy and disputes and strife about words, which result in (produce) envy and jealousy, quarrels and dissension, abuse and insults and slander, and base suspicions,

5 c onstant quarrellings of men corrupted in mind and destitute of the truth, holding gain to be piety.

And protracted wrangling and wearing discussion and perpetual friction among men who are corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, who imagine that godliness or righteousness is a source of profit. From such withdraw.

6 B ut piety with contentment is great gain.

godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.

7 F or we have brought nothing into the world: that neither can we carry anything out.

For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world;

8 B ut having sustenance and covering, we will be content with these.

But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied).

9 B ut those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many unwise and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into destruction and ruin.

But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing.

10 F or the love of money is root of every evil; which some having aspired after, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute pangs.

11 B ut thou, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness of spirit.

But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart.

12 S trive earnestly the good conflict of faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which thou hast been called, and hast confessed the good confession before many witnesses.

Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and you confessed the good confession before many witnesses.

13 I enjoin thee before God who preserves all things in life, and Christ Jesus who witnessed before Pontius Pilate the good confession,

In the presence of God, Who preserves alive all living things, and of Christ Jesus, Who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you

14 t hat thou keep the commandment spotless, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;

To keep all His precepts unsullied and flawless, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One),

15 w hich in its own time the blessed and only Ruler shall shew, the King of those that reign, and Lord of those that exercise lordship;

Which will be shown forth in His own proper time by the blessed, only Sovereign (Ruler), the King of kings and the Lord of lords,

16 w ho only has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor is able to see; to whom honour and eternal might. Amen.

Who alone has immortality and lives in unapproachable light, Whom no man has ever seen or can see. Unto Him be honor and everlasting power and dominion. Amen (so be it).

17 E njoin on those rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to trust on the uncertainty of riches; but in the God who affords us all things richly for enjoyment;

As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for enjoyment.

18 t o do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal in distributing, disposed to communicate,

to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share,

19 l aying by for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold of really life.

In this way laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may grasp that which is life indeed.

20 O Timotheus, keep the entrusted deposit, avoiding profane, vain babblings, and oppositions of false-named knowledge,

O Timothy, guard and keep the deposit entrusted! Turn away from the irreverent babble and godless chatter, with the vain and empty and worldly phrases, and the subtleties and the contradictions in what is falsely called knowledge and spiritual illumination.

21 o f which some having made profession, have missed the faith. Grace with thee.

by making such profession some have erred (missed the mark) as regards the faith. Grace (divine favor and blessing) be with you all! Amen (so be it).