1 Y ou must teach what is right and true.

But you, teach what is fitting and becoming to sound (wholesome) doctrine.

2 O lder men are to be quiet and to be careful how they act. They are to be the boss over their own desires. Their faith and love are to stay strong and they are not to give up.

Urge the older men to be temperate, venerable (serious), sensible, self-controlled, and sound in the faith, in the love, and in the steadfastness and patience.

3 T each older women to be quiet and to be careful how they act also. They are not to go around speaking bad things about others or things that are not true. They are not to be chained by strong drink. They should teach what is good.

Bid the older women similarly to be reverent and devout in their deportment as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and noble,

4 O lder women are to teach the young women to love their husbands and children.

So that they will wisely train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their husbands and their children,

5 T hey are to teach them to think before they act, to be pure, to be workers at home, to be kind, and to obey their own husbands. In this way, the Word of God is honored.

To be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good-natured (kindhearted), adapting and subordinating themselves to their husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited).

6 A lso teach young men to be wise.

In a similar way, urge the younger men to be self-restrained and to behave prudently.

7 I n all things show them how to live by your life and by right teaching.

And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity, with dignity and seriousness.

8 Y ou should be wise in what you say. Then the one who is against you will be ashamed and will not be able to say anything bad about you.

And let your instruction be sound and fit and wise and wholesome, vigorous and irrefutable and above censure, so that the opponent may be put to shame, finding nothing discrediting or evil to say about us.

9 T hose who are servants owned by someone must obey their owners and please them in everything. They must not argue.

bond servants to be submissive to their masters, to be pleasing and give satisfaction in every way. not to talk back or contradict,

10 T hey must not steal from their owners but prove they can be trusted in every way. In this way, their lives will honor the teaching of God Who saves us.

Nor to steal by taking things of small value, but to prove themselves truly loyal and entirely reliable and faithful throughout, so that in everything they may be an ornament and do credit to the teaching from and about God our Savior.

11 G od’s free gift of being saved is being given to everyone.

For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.

12 W e are taught to have nothing to do with that which is against God. We are to have nothing to do with the desires of this world. We are to be wise and to be right with God. We are to live God-like lives in this world.

It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,

13 W e are to be looking for the great hope and the coming of our great God and the One Who saves, Christ Jesus.

Awaiting and looking for the blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

14 H e gave Himself for us. He did this by buying us with His blood and making us free from all sin. He gave Himself so His people could be clean and want to do good.

Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people eager and enthusiastic about beneficial deeds.

15 T each all these things and give words of help. Show them if they are wrong. You have the right and the power to do this. Do not let anyone think little of you.

Tell these things. Urge (advise, encourage, warn) and rebuke with full authority. Let no one despise or disregard or think little of you.