1 Timothy 3
1 He ol tah a uepom pai. Khat khat long ni hiphoelnah te a hue atah bibi then ni a. hue.
This saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.
2 Te dongah hiphoelkung he hmabuet la, yuu va pakhat la, aka khuel la, a cuepmueih la, mikcop la, moeihoeih la, khala la, om ham a kuek.
Therefore the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 Yumi mahpawh, kuthlah mahpawh, a kodo saeh, hohmuh mahpawh, tangka moo mahpawh.
not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for sordid gain, but gentle, not contentious, and not a lover of money.
4 Amah imkhui te a then la mawt saeh. A ca rhoek te hinomnah neh boengainah khuiah boeih om uh saeh.
He must lead his own household well, keeping his children in submission with all dignity.
5 Te dongah khat khat long ni amah imkhui te mawt ham a ming pawt atah Pathen kah hlangboel te metlam a cuncah eh?
(For if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of God's church?)
6 Tanoe hlangthai boel saeh. Te daengah ni koevoei uh pawt vetih rhaithae kah dumlai khuiah a cungku pawt eh.
He must not be a new convert, or he might become puffed up and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Te phoeiah poeng lamkah laipai then khueh ham a kuek. Te daengah ni hnaelcoenah neh rhaithae kah thaang dongah a cungku pawt eh.
He must also have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into the reproach and snare of the devil.
8 Te vanbangla tueihyoeih rhoek khaw a hinom saeh. Olrhak boel saeh. Misurtui te muep ngaithuen boel saeh. Tangkarhai boel saeh.
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, and not greedy for sordid gain.
9 A caih la mingcimnah neh tangnah olhuep te pom saeh.
They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 Amih te lamhma la nuemnai phoeiah cimbit la aka om loh bi saeh.
They must first be tested; if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.
11 a yuu rhoek khaw hinom saeh. Hmui yoi mahpawh, khuel saeh. A cungkuem dongah a uepom saeh.
Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded and faithful in all things.
12 tueihyoeih rhoek he yuu pakhat kah va la om saeh. A ca rhoek neh amah imkhui te a then la mawt saeh.
A deacon must be the husband of one wife and must lead his children and his own household well.
13 Balh aka doedan rhoek long ni a paihmuen then a kutloh tih tangnah neh Jesuh Khrih ah muep a sayalh.
For those who have served well as deacons obtain a good standing for themselves along with great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 He rhoek he nang ham ka daek tih nang taengah thamaa la pawk ham ka ngaiuep.
I am writing these things to yoʋ, hoping to come to yoʋ soon.
15 Tedae ka koe mai atah Pathen imkhui kah a kuek khosak te na ming van ni. Te tah aka hing Pathen kah hlangboel, oltak kah rhungsut neh khoengim pawn ni.
But if I delay, I am writing so that yoʋ may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 Hingcimnah olhuep kah a len he oelh om pawt la om. Amah tah pumsa ah tueng tih mueihla loh a tang sak te puencawn rhoek loh a hmuh. Namtom rhoek taengla a hoe dongah Diklai ah a tangnah uh tih thangpomnah neh a loh.
Beyond all question, great is the mystery of godliness: God was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory.
