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 is a faithful saying, "If any man is seeking the office of a minister he is aspiring to a noble 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.
The minister should be a man of blameless character; he should be husband of but one wife; he should live a sober, self-restrained, orderly life; he should be hospitable, skilled in teaching;
3 Yumi mahpawh, kuthlah mahpawh, a kodo saeh, hohmuh mahpawh, tangka moo mahpawh.
no drinker or brawler; but forbearing, peaceable, and no money- lover;
4 Amah imkhui te a then la mawt saeh. A ca rhoek te hinomnah neh boengainah khuiah boeih om uh saeh.
he should be a man who rules his own household well, and keeps his children ever under control and thoroughly well behaved.
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 rule his own household, how shall he take charge of a church of God?
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 recent convert, lest he be blinded with pride, and incur the doom 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 should also have a good reputation among outsiders, lest he fall into reproach, and into a 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 serious, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of gain,
9 A caih la mingcimnah neh tangnah olhuep te pom saeh.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 Amih te lamhma la nuemnai phoeiah cimbit la aka om loh bi saeh.
They should first be tested, and after that, if they are found irreproachable, let them serve as deacons.
11 a yuu rhoek khaw hinom saeh. Hmui yoi mahpawh, khuel saeh. A cungkuem dongah a uepom saeh.
Deaconesses likewise must be grave, not slanderers, sober, 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.
Let deacons be the husband of but one wife, men who rule their children and their household properly.
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 well discharged the duties of a deacon are gaining an honorable position for themselves, as well as much fearless confidence in the faith of Christ Jesus.
14 He rhoek he nang ham ka daek tih nang taengah thamaa la pawk ham ka ngaiuep.
Although I am hoping to come to you before long,
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.
I am writing this to you in case I should be detained, to let you see how you ought to behave in the household of God - the Church of the everliving God, the pillar and mainstay 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.
Yes! without contradiction, great is the mystery of godliness!
