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

All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.

2 T hose who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.

3 I f anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

4 h e is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,

he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

5 c onstant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.

and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

6 B ut godliness with contentment is great gain.

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

7 F or we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

8 B ut having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

9 B ut those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 F or the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 B ut you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

12 F ight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

13 I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

14 t hat you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;

that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 w hich in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

16 w ho alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

17 C harge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

18 t hat they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

19 l aying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

20 T imothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge;

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—

21 w hich some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.