1 Timothy 3
1 He ol tah a uepom pai. Khat khat long ni hiphoelnah te a hue atah bibi then ni a. hue.
Anyone who aspires to be an elder [in the congregation] (OR, a bishop) desires a noble/honorable task.
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.
[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 Yumi mahpawh, kuthlah mahpawh, a kodo saeh, hohmuh mahpawh, tangka moo mahpawh.
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 Amah imkhui te a then la mawt saeh. A ca rhoek te hinomnah neh boengainah khuiah boeih om uh saeh.
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 Te dongah khat khat long ni amah imkhui te mawt ham a ming pawt atah Pathen kah hlangboel te metlam a cuncah eh?
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 Tanoe hlangthai boel saeh. Te daengah ni koevoei uh pawt vetih rhaithae kah dumlai khuiah a cungku pawt eh.
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 Te phoeiah poeng lamkah laipai then khueh ham a kuek. Te daengah ni hnaelcoenah neh rhaithae kah thaang dongah a cungku pawt eh.
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 Te vanbangla tueihyoeih rhoek khaw a hinom saeh. Olrhak boel saeh. Misurtui te muep ngaithuen boel saeh. Tangkarhai boel saeh.
[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 A caih la mingcimnah neh tangnah olhuep te pom saeh.
They must sincerely believe the message that [God] has now revealed [to us].
10 Amih te lamhma la nuemnai phoeiah cimbit la aka om loh bi saeh.
[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 a yuu rhoek khaw hinom saeh. Hmui yoi mahpawh, khuel saeh. A cungkuem dongah a uepom saeh.
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 tueihyoeih rhoek he yuu pakhat kah va la om saeh. A ca rhoek neh amah imkhui te a then la mawt saeh.
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 Balh aka doedan rhoek long ni a paihmuen then a kutloh tih tangnah neh Jesuh Khrih ah muep a sayalh.
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 He rhoek he nang ham ka daek tih nang taengah thamaa la pawk ham ka ngaiuep.
Although I hope that I will come and visit you soon, I am writing these things to you [now]
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.
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 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.
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.
