1 Timothy, 6

1. All those under the yoke of slavery must have unqualified respect for their masters, so that the name of God and our teaching are not brought into disrepute.

1. Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be defamed.

2. Those whose masters are believers are not to respect them less because they are brothers; on the contrary, they should serve them all the better, since those who have the benefit of their services are believers and dear to God. This is what you are to teach and urge.

2. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brethren; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties.

3. Anyone who teaches anything different and does not keep to the sound teaching which is that of our Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine which is in accordance with true religion,

3. If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness,

4. is proud and has no understanding, but rather a weakness for questioning everything and arguing about words. All that can come of this is jealousy, contention, abuse and evil mistrust;

4. he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,

5. and unending disputes by people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth, and imagine that religion is a way of making a profit.

5. and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

6. Religion, of course, does bring large profits, but only to those who are content with what they have.

6. There is great gain in godliness with contentment;

7. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it;

7. for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world;

8. but as long as we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.

8. but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

9. People who long to be rich are a prey to trial; they get trapped into all sorts of foolish and harmful ambitions which plunge people into ruin and destruction.

9. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10. 'The love of money is the root of all evils' and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds.

10. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.

11. But, as someone dedicated to God, avoid all that. You must aim to be upright and religious, filled with faith and love, perseverance and gentleness.

11. But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

12. Fight the good fight of faith and win the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made your noble profession of faith before many witnesses.

12. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

13. Now, before God, the source of all life, and before Jesus Christ, who witnessed to his noble profession of faith before Pontius Pilate, I charge you

13. 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,

14. to do all that you have been told, with no faults or failures, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

14. I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;

15. who at the due time will be revealed by God, the blessed and only Ruler of all, the King of kings and the Lord of lords,

15. and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

16. who alone is immortal, whose home is in inaccessible light, whom no human being has seen or is able to see: to him be honour and everlasting power. Amen.

16. who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17. Instruct those who are rich in this world's goods that they should not be proud and should set their hopes not on money, which is untrustworthy, but on God who gives us richly all that we need for our happiness.

17. As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy.

18. They are to do good and be rich in good works, generous in giving and always ready to share-

18. They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous,

19. this is the way they can amass a good capital sum for the future if they want to possess the only life that is real.

19. thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed.

20. My dear Timothy, take great care of all that has been entrusted to you. Turn away from godless philosophical discussions and the contradictions of the 'knowledge' which is not knowledge at all;

20. O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge,

21. by adopting this, some have missed the goal of faith. Grace be with you.

21. for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you.