1 Let as many bondmen as are under yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and the teaching be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren; but let them the rather serve them with subjection, because they are faithful and beloved, who profit by the good and ready service rendered. These things teach and exhort. 3 If any one teach differently, and do not accede to sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the teaching which is according to piety, 4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and disputes of words, out of which arise envy, strife, injurious words, evil suspicions, 5 constant quarrellings of men corrupted in mind and destitute of the truth, holding gain to be the end of piety.

6 But piety with contentment is great gain. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world: it is manifest that neither can we carry anything out. 8 But having sustenance and covering, we will be content with these. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many unwise and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. 10 For the love of money is the root of every evil; which some having aspired after, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness of spirit. 12 Strive earnestly in the good conflict of faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which thou hast been called, and hast confessed the good confession before many witnesses.

13 I enjoin thee before God who preserves all things in life, and Christ Jesus who witnessed before Pontius Pilate the good confession, 14 that thou keep the commandment spotless, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 15 which in its own time the blessed and only Ruler shall shew, the King of those that reign, and Lord of those that exercise lordship; 16 who only has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor is able to see; to whom be honour and eternal might. Amen. 17 Enjoin on those rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to trust on the uncertainty of riches; but in the God who affords us all things richly for our enjoyment; 18 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal in distributing, disposed to communicate of their substance, 19 laying by for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold of what is really life. 20 O Timotheus, keep the entrusted deposit, avoiding profane, vain babblings, and oppositions of false-named knowledge, 21 of which some having made profession, have missed the faith. Grace be with thee.

1 Kõik, kes on orjaikkes, pidagu oma peremehi suure lugupidamise vääriliseks, et Jumala nime ja õpetust ei teotataks. 2 Aga kellel on usklikud peremehed, ärgu põlaku neid sellepärast, et nad on usukaaslased, vaid teenigu neid veel paremini, sest nad on nende usukaaslased ja pühendunud oma orjade heaolule.

Seda õpeta ja rõhuta!

3 Kes õpetab midagi muud ega nõustu meie Issanda Jeesuse Kristuse mõistlike sõnade ja jumalakartliku õpetusega, 4 on ennast täis ega mõista midagi! Neile meeldib haiglaslikult vaielda ja tülitseda sõnade tähenduse pärast, millest tekib kadedust, riidu, laimu, alatuid kahtlustusi 5 ja pidevat jagelemist inimeste vahel, kes on kaotanud arukuse, kellelt on varastatud tõde ja kes peavad jumalakartust rahaliseks tuluallikaks.

6 Ent jumalakartus koos rahuloluga on tõesti suur tuluallikas. 7 Ei ole me ju midagi toonud siia maailma ega saa ka midagi ära viia. 8 Kui meil on toit laual ja riie seljas, siis olgem sellega rahul. 9 Aga kes tahavad rikkaks saada, langevad ahvatluste lõksu ja paljude rumalate ja kahjulike himude küüsi, mis veavad inimesed sügavasse hävingusse ja hukatusse. 10 Sest armastus raha vastu on kogu kurja juur: seda ahnitsedes on mitmed usuteelt eksinud ja endale tekitanud palju piinu.

11 Sina aga, Jumala inimene, hoidu sellest! Taotle õigust, jumalakartust, ustavust, armastust, vastupidavust ja tasadust! 12 Võitle head usuvõitlust, haara kinni igavesest elust, millele sa oled kutsutud, kui sa oled andnud hea tunnistuse paljude tunnistajate ees. 13 Ma käsin sind Jumala ees, kes kõik teeb elavaks, ja Jeesuse Kristuse ees, kes Pontius Pilaatuse ees andis hea tunnistuse, 14 et sa järgiksid korraldust veatult ja laitmatult kuni meie Issanda Jeesuse Kristuse ilmumiseni, 15 mille õigel ajal toob nähtavale tema –

õnnistatud ja ainus Valitseja,

kuningate Kuningas ja isandate Issand,

16 kes üksi on surematu,

kes elab ligipääsmatus valguses,

keda pole näinud ükski inimene ega võigi näha.

Temale olgu austus ja igavene vägi! Aamen.

17 Manitse neid, kes on rikkad praeguses maailmas, et nad ei oleks kõrgid ega loodaks varandusele, mis on ebakindel, vaid Jumalale, kes annab meile nautimiseks kõike rikkalikult. 18 Käsi neil teha head, olla rikkad kaunite tegude poolest, olla helded ja valmis teistega jagama. 19 Selliselt koguvad nad vara ja rajavad endale vundamendi tulevaseks ajaks, et haarata kinni tõelisest elust.

20 Timoteos, hoia seda, mis sinu hoolde on usaldatud! Väldi jumalakartmatut loba ja vastuväiteid, mida ekslikult teadmisteks kutsutakse, 21 millega nõustudes on mõnedki usust kõrvale kaldunud.

Arm olgu teie kõikidega!