New King James Version | International Standard Version |
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 of slavery should regard their own masters as deserving of the highest respect, so that the name of God and our teaching may not be 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. | 2Moreover, those who have believing masters should be respectful to them, because they are fellow believers. In fact, they must serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dear to them. These are the things you must teach and exhort. |
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 false doctrine and refuses to agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and godly teaching, |
4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, | 4he is a conceited person and does not understand anything. He has an unhealthy craving for arguments and debates. This produces jealousy, rivalry, 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 incessant conflict between people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth. They think that godliness is a way to make a profit. |
6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. | 6Of course, godliness with contentment does bring a great profit. |
7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. | 7Nothing to this world we bring; from it take we nothing. |
8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. | 8With food to eat and clothes to wear; content we are in everything. |
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 people who want to get rich keep toppling into temptation and are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires that plunge them into destruction and ruin. |
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. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain. |
11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. | 11But you, man of God, must flee from all these things. Instead, you must 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. | 12Fight the good fight for the faith. Keep holding on to eternal life, to which you were called and about which you gave a good testimony in front 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, | 13Since you are in the presence of God, who gives life to everything, and in the presence of the Messiah Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, I solemnly charge you |
14that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, | 14to keep these commands stainlessly and blamelessly until the appearance of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. |
15which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, | 15At the right time, he will make him known. God is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and 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. | 16He alone has endless life and lives in inaccessible light. No one has ever seen him, nor can anyone see him. Honor and eternal power belong to him! 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. | 17Tell those who are rich in this age not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, let them place their confidence in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. |
18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, | 18They are to do good, to be rich in good actions, to be generous, and to share. |
19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. | 19By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future, so that they can keep their hold on the 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. Avoid the pointless discussions and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. |
21by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. | 21Although some claim to have it, they have abandoned the faith. May grace be with all of you! |
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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