1 Timoti 3
1 Eechi chaambyo chilinchicho: Na muntu kayanda kuba mupati wambungano, ulombozya mulimu mubotu.
This is a faithful saying: If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.
2 Nkinkaako mupati wambungano teelede kuba akampenda pe. Uyelede kuba mulumi wa mwanakazi umwe. Uleelede kuba muntu uli achiimo chibotu, uyeya kabotu, uzikatide, alimwi usamawusya. Uyelede kukonzya kuyisya.
The overseer, therefore, must be beyond criticism, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, good at teaching;
3 Teelede kuba muntu uyandisya wayini, utakazyi a kutalwana pe, pesi aboobo, kalisibuuya, siluumuno. Teelede kuba simuyanda mali pe.
not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;
4 Abe muntu ukonzya kubamba n'anda yakwe kabotu, alimwi uyeelede kuba aanchonzyo kuti bana bakwe balamuswilizya akumulemeka munzila zyoonse.
one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
5 Nkaambo na mwaalumi katazi kubamba n'anda yakwe mwini, kujana ulakonzya biyeni kubamba mbungano yaLeza?
(but if someone does not know how to manage his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)
6 Teelede kuba muntu uuchisanduka, kuchitila kuti katazimbi chakulisumpula alimwi ulakonzya kuwida mukupegwa mulandu mbuli Satani.
not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
7 Aboobo abe muntu ulempuwo mbotu kuli baabo balaanze, kuti atawide mu mawuse a mukakole ka dyabbulosi.
Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into disgrace and the trap of the devil.
8 Munzila ikozyenye, madikkoni beelede kuba abulemu, batabi bandimi-zyobile. Tabeelede kunywa loko wayini a kutangala.
Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not devoted to a lot of wine, not greedy for money;
9 Baleelede kubamba nsiswa chalusyomo a miyeyo isalala.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 Baleelede kuzumininwa lutanzi, alimwi elyo beelede kubeleka nkaambo tabakwe kampenda.
Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are blamesless.
11 Munzila ikozyenye, banakazi babo beelede kuba abulemu, batakwe manwa, pesi balijisi alimwi basyomekede muzintu zyoonse.
Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Badikkoni kabali balumi ba mwanakazi umwi. Baleelede kubamba kabotu bana babo a n'anda zyabo.
Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 Nkaambo aabo bakabeleka kabotu balajana lwabo kwimikila kubotu alimwi a busichaamba bupati mulusyomo luli muliKkilisito Jesu.
For those who have served well as deacons gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 Mbuli mbundikulemba zintu ezi kulinduwe, ndabulangilizi bwakusika kulinduwe akufwambana.
These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
15 Pesi na ndanonoka, ndikukulembela kuti uzibe kuti kulibambwa biyeni mun'anda yaLeza, ili njiyo mbungano yaLeza muumi, njembandama a mugwasyi wasimpe.
but if I wait long, that you may know how people ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 toonse tulazumina kuti insiswa yabunaleza nimpati loko: “Wakayubununwa munyama, wakachitwa uusalala aMuuya, wakabonwa a bangelo, wakaambwa akati kamanyika, wakasyomegwa munyika, alimwi wakatolwa kujulu mubulemu.”
Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: He was revealed in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
