提多書 1
1 上帝的僕人，耶穌基督的使徒保羅，憑着上帝選民的信心與敬虔真理的知識，
This letter comes from Paul, servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I'm sent to build up the trust of God's chosen people and to share the knowledge of the truth that leads to lives lived for God.
This gives them the hope of eternal life that God (who cannot lie) promised ages ago, (aiōnios g166)
3 到了日期，藉着傳揚的工夫把他的道顯明了；這傳揚的責任是按着上帝－我們救主的命令交託了我。
but which at the proper time he revealed through his word in the message which I was entrusted to give, following the command of God our Savior.
4 現在寫信給提多，就是照着我們共信之道作我真兒子的。願恩惠、平安從父上帝和我們的救主基督耶穌歸與你！
This letter is sent to Titus, my true son through the trust in God we share in common. May you have grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 我從前留你在克里特，是要你將那沒有辦完的事都辦整齊了，又照我所吩咐你的，在各城設立長老。
The reason I left you in Crete was for you to organize what was still needed and to appoint elders in every town, as I told you.
6 若有無可指責的人，只作一個婦人的丈夫，兒女也是信主的，沒有人告他們是放蕩不服約束的，就可以設立。
An elder must have a good reputation, the husband of one wife, and have children who believe and who are not accused of being wild or disobedient.
7 監督既是上帝的管家，必須無可指責，不任性，不暴躁，不因酒滋事，不打人，不貪無義之財；
As a leader for God, a head elder must have a good reputation and not be arrogant. He should not have a quick temper nor get drunk; he shouldn't be violent or greedy for money.
8 樂意接待遠人，好善，莊重，公平，聖潔自持；
He should be hospitable, someone who loves what's good and does what's right. He should be living a life for God, self-controlled,
9 堅守所教真實的道理，就能將純正的教訓勸化人，又能把爭辯的人駁倒了。
and must be devoted to the trustworthy message as it's taught. In this way he can encourage others through correct teaching, and be able to convince those who disagree.
10 因為有許多人不服約束，說虛空話欺哄人；那奉割禮的更是這樣。
For there are many rebels around who talk a lot of deceptive nonsense, especially from the circumcision group.
11 這些人的口總要堵住。他們因貪不義之財，將不該教導的教導人，敗壞人的全家。
Their talking must stop, these people who throw whole families into turmoil, teaching things that aren't right for the sake of making money.
12 有克里特人中的一個本地先知說：「克里特人常說謊話，乃是惡獸，又饞又懶。」
As someone of their own people, a prophet, has stated, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts who are lazy, greedy people.”
13 這個見證是真的。所以，你要嚴嚴地責備他們，使他們在真道上純全無疵，
This is a true statement! Consequently give them a good telling-off so that they can have a healthy trust in God,
14 不聽猶太人荒渺的言語和離棄真道之人的誡命。
not paying attention to Jewish myths and human commandments from those who deviate from the truth.
15 在潔淨的人，凡物都潔淨；在污穢不信的人，甚麼都不潔淨，連心地和天良也都污穢了。
To those who have clean minds everything is clean, but to those who are corrupt and refuse to trust in God, nothing is clean—both their minds and their consciences are corrupt.
16 他們說是認識上帝，行事卻和他相背；本是可憎惡的，是悖逆的，在各樣善事上是可廢棄的。
They claim to know God, but they prove this is false by what they do. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
