| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. | 1All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters to be worthy of all respect, so that God's name and His teaching will not be blasphemed. |
| 2And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. | 2Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things. |
| 3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, | 3If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, |
| 4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, | 4he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, |
| 5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. | 5and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain. |
| 6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. | 6But godliness with contentment is a great gain. |
| 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. | 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. |
| 8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. | 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. |
| 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. | 9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. |
| 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. | 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. |
| 11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. | 11But you, man of God, run from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. |
| 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. | 12Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses. |
| 13I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, | 13In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you |
| 14that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, | 14to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 15which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, | 15God will bring this about in His own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, |
| 16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. | 16the only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; no one has seen or can see Him, to Him be honor and eternal might. Amen. |
| 17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. | 17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. |
| 18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, | 18Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, |
| 19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. | 19storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real. |
| 20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— | 20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the "knowledge" that falsely bears that name. |
| 21by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. | 21By professing it, some people have deviated from the faith. Grace be with all of you. |
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