1 Timothy 6 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Everyone who is under the yoke as a slave should consider their own masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching aren't spoken against.

And those who have masters who are believers shouldn't disrespect them just because they're brothers and sisters. Instead, they should serve them even better, because the ones benefiting from their good work are believers and people they care about. Teach and encourage these things.

If anyone teaches something different and doesn't agree with the healthy words of our Lord Jesus, The One, and with the teaching that leads to a God-honoring life,

that person is puffed up with pride and actually understands nothing. Instead, they have a sick obsession with controversies and arguments about words, which produce jealousy, conflict, slander, and ugly suspicions,

and constant friction between people whose minds are corrupted and who've been robbed of the truth. They think that a God-honoring life is a way to make money.

But a God-honoring life combined with being content with what you have — that actually is a huge gain.

Because we brought nothing into the world, and we can't take anything out of it either.

So if we have food and something to wear, we'll be satisfied with that.

But people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and destructive cravings that drag people down into ruin and destruction.

Because the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, by chasing after it, have wandered away from the faith and stabbed themselves with all kinds of pain.

But you — you belong to God — run away from all of this. Instead, chase after what's right, a God-honoring life, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

Fight the good fight that comes with faith. Grab hold of limitless life — that's what you were called to when you made your great declaration in front of many witnesses.

I'm charging you, in front of God who gives life to everything, and in front of The One Jesus who made his great declaration before Pontius Pilate:

keep this command without stain or blame until our Lord Jesus, The One, appears.

God will bring this about at the right time — he is the only Ruler who has all the power, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

the only one who has immortality, who lives in light so brilliant no one can get near it, who no human has ever seen or even can see. To him belong honor and power that last forever. Yes. Absolutely.

Tell those who are rich in this present age not to be arrogant and not to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain. Instead, tell them to put their hope in God, who generously gives us everything to enjoy.

Tell them to do good, to be rich in good actions, to be generous and ready to share.

By doing this, they'll be storing up treasure for themselves as a solid foundation for the future, so they can grab hold of the life that truly is life.

Timothy, guard what's been entrusted to you. Stay away from pointless, empty talk and the contradictions of what is falsely called 'knowledge.'

Some people have claimed to have this 'knowledge' and have wandered away from the faith. Undeserved kindness be with you all.