| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. | 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. |
| 2Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge 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 a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that 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 puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, 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, |
| 5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. | 5and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain. |
| 6But godliness with contentment is great gain, | 6But godliness with contentment is a great gain. |
| 7for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. | 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. |
| 8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will 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, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. | 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 evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. | 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 as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. | 11But you, man of God, run from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. |
| 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made 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 charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, | 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 |
| 14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, | 14to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 15which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, 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, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. 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. |
| 17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything 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. |
| 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, | 18Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, |
| 19thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly 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 the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble 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. |
| 21for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you. | 21By professing it, some people have deviated from the faith. Grace be with all of you. |
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