| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, | 1Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, |
| 2to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. | 2to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. |
| 3For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. | 3For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. |
| 4But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, | 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, |
| 5not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, | 5He saved us-- not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy -- through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. |
| 6whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, | 6He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior |
| 7that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. | 7so that, having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. |
| 8This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. | 8This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. |
| 9But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. | 9But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. |
| 10Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, | 10Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, |
| 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. | 11knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned. |
| 12When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. | 12When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. |
| 13Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. | 13Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they will lack nothing. |
| 14And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. | 14And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works for cases of urgent need, so that they will not be unfruitful. |
| 15All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. | 15All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you. |
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