1 Timote 3
1 Kricaa zaehhoihaih tok koeh kami loe, tok kahoih koeh kami ah ni oh, tiah thuih ih lok loe amsoem.
Anyone who aspires to be an elder [in the congregation] (OR, a bishop) desires a noble/honorable task.
2 Kricaabu zaehoikung loe coek koi om ai kami, zu maeto khue tawn kami, poek angsum thaih kami, poektoeng kami, tuinuen hoih kami, angvin khetzawn kop kami, patuk thaih kami ah oh han oh;
[Since that is a task that others should respect], an overseer must [live] in such a way that [no one] can truly (say that he has done [anything that is] wrong/find fault with him). Specifically, [he must be] faithful to his wife. He must think clearly [about what he does]. He must be able to control his behavior. He must be sensible. He must be dignified/respectable. He must welcome and care for guests. He must be able to teach [God’s truth] well.
3 mu coih kami na ai, minawk raihaih paek kami na ai, phoisa koeh hmoek kami na ai; toe palungsawk kami, lok angaek koeh ai kami, uthaih tawn ai kami,
He must not be a drunkard. He must not be ready/quick to fight [those who make him angry]. On the contrary, he must be gentle and he must not be quarrelsome. He must not be greedy for a lot of money.
4 a imthong khetzawn kop kami, a caanawk thuitaek thaih kami ah oh han angaih;
He must lead and care for his own household/family well. For example, he must be a man whom his children obey and completely respect,
5 (angmah imthong mataeng doeh khenzawn thai ai kami mah loe Sithaw kricaabu to kawbangmaw khen thai tih?)
because if anyone does not know how he should lead well and care for well the people who live in his own house, (he certainly cannot care for God’s congregation!/how can he care for God’s congregation?) [RHQ]
6 Kricaa ah kaom kangtha kami to qoih han om ai, to tih ai nahaeloe amoekhaih hoiah om ueloe, taqawk lokcaekhaih thungah amtim moeng tih.
He must not be one who has just recently [trusted in Jesus], because [if you choose a man] like that, he might become conceited/proud [because you chose him so soon]. As a result of his being conceited/proud, God will condemn him like he condemned the devil [because he was conceited/proud].
7 Tasa bang ih kaminawk mah ahmin kahoih thuih ih kami ah oh han angaih; to tih ai nahaeloe kasae thuihaih hoi taqawk ih dongh pongah aman moeng tih.
Moreover, [an elder must live] in such a way that non-Christians speak well of him, because [if he conducts himself like] that, people will not say evil things about him, and the devil will not capture/trap him [MET] [like people capture animals] in a trap.
8 To baktih toengah kricaabu zaehoikung kacoehtanawk loe poekcak han angaih, palai angphae kami na ai, mu nae hmoek kami na ai, katoeng ai ah hak ih phoisa koeh hmoek kami na ai;
[Those whom you choose to serve as] deacons likewise [must be ones who conduct themselves suitably/appropriately. Specifically], they must be (serious/worthy that people respect them). They must (be sincere/mean what they say). They must not like to drink a lot of alcohol. They must not (be greedy/have a strong desire to get money).
9 toe kasae kahoih panoekhaih kaciim palungthin hoiah tang ih kathuk hmuen to kacakah patawn kami ah oh han angaih.
They must sincerely believe the message that [God] has now revealed [to us].
10 To kaminawk loe tanoek hmaloe han angaih; to pacoengah coek koi om ai nahaeloe, kricaabu zaehoikung kacoehta tok to sah o nasoe.
[Like you do for the elders], you must examine ([their character/how they conduct their lives]) [before you appoint them to serve]. Then if they are without fault, let them serve as deacons.
11 To baktih toengah a zunawk doeh poekcak kami ah oh han angaih; minawk kasae thui ai kami, mu nae ai kami, hmuen boih ah oepthok kami ah oh han angaih.
Their wives (OR, The women who are deacons) likewise [must conduct themselves suitably/appropriately. Specifically, they must be] (serious/worthy that people respect them). They must not speak evil about people. They must not drink a lot of alcohol. They must be faithful in everything that they do.
12 Kricaabu zaehoikung kacoehtanawk loe zu maeto khue tawn kami, a caanawk hoi imthong khenzawn thaih kami ah oh han angaih.
Deacons must be faithful to their wives, and they must lead well and care well for their children and [other] people in their houses.
13 Kricaabu zaehhoihaih tok to kahoih ah sah kaminawk loe, kacak Kri Jesu tanghaih palungthin tawnh o pongah, ahmin hoihaih hoi khingyahaih to hnu o tih.
Because if deacons serve well, people will respect them, and they will be able [to speak] very boldly/confidently about what they believe concerning Christ Jesus.
14 Hae ca hae kang tarik, toe akra ai ah nang khaeah kang zoh han:
Although I hope that I will come and visit you soon, I am writing these things to you [now]
15 toe ka kra moeng nahaeloe, Sithaw im ah khosakhaih dan na panoek thai hanah hae ca hae kang tarik, Sithaw im loe kahing Sithaw ih kricaabu ah oh, kahing Sithaw kricaabu loe loktang lok angdoethaih ahmuen ah oh.
in order that if I (am delayed/things prevent me from visiting to you soon), you will know how believers should conduct their lives [and you will be able to teach that to them]. [I am talking about] all those who are members of God’s family, all the congregations that belong to the all-powerful God, all those who uphold/support [MET] the true [message].
16 Kathuk Sithaw bokhaih loe angaek han om ai khoek to len: Sithaw loe taksa ah amtueng, Anih to Muithla mah kamnoek ah amtuengsak moe, van kaminawk mah hnuk o, Gentelnawk khaeah tamthanglok to a thuih, long kaminawk mah tang o pacoengah, lensawkhaih hoiah van ah dawh tahang boeh.
It is certainly true that [the message that God] has now revealed is very wonderful! From it, we learn this spiritual truth that we say/sing about [Christ] (OR, We affirm this teaching to be true and very important.) It is what shows us how to live (in a godly manner/in a manner that pleases God). It is what God has now revealed, even though it was not known before. [We] ([affirm/say that it is true]) concerning Jesus Christ that, He is the one who appeared on the earth in a human body. God’s Spirit showed/demonstrated that he is/was truly the Messiah (OR, that he always acted righteously); Angels saw him; people preached about him in many nations; People in many parts of the world believed the message about him. God took him up into heaven.
