1 YOU must speak to them of the matters which should have a place in wholesome teaching.

2 Tell the older men to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, in patience.

3 Tell the older women, in the same way, to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is noble,

4 that they may train the young women to be loving wives and loving mothers,

5 self-controlled, pure, home-workers, kind, submissive to their own husbands, that God's message may not be slandered.

6 Urge the younger men, in the same way, to practice self-control in everything.

7 Make yourself an example of good works, sincerity in teaching, dignified behavior

8 and wholesome talk that is above censure, that our opponents may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say about us.

9 Tell slaves to be submissive to their own masters in all things and to try to please them, not answering back,

10 not pilfering, but showing all kindly fidelity, so as to make the teaching about God our Savior seem beautiful in all respects.

11 For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men,

12 teaching us to renounce all irreligion and worldly passions and to live soberly, justly and piously in this present world,

13 waiting for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and of our Savior Christ Jesus,

14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all sin and purify us as his own people earnest in honorable work.

15 Tell them these things, urge, convince with all authority; let no one slight you.