| New King James Version | NET 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. | 1Those who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters as deserving of full respect. This will prevent the name of God and Christian teaching from being discredited. |
| 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. | 2But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Summary of Timothy's Duties Teach them and exhort them about 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 someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with 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 and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, 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 bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit. |
| 6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. | 6Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. |
| 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. | 7For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. |
| 8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. | 8But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. |
| 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. | 9Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that 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 the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains. |
| 11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. | 11But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, 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. | 12Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for 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, | 13I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate, |
| 14that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, | 14to obey this 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, | 15 --whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the king of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time. |
| 16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. | 16He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! 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. | 17Command those who are rich in this world's goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. |
| 18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, | 18Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. |
| 19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. | 19In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life. |
| 20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— | 20O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called "knowledge." |
| 21by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. | 21By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all. |
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