1 Timothy 3
1 This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a worthie worke.
Msemo huu ni wa kweli: mtu akitaka kuwa kiongozi katika kanisa, huyo anatamani kazi nzuri.
2 A Bishop therefore must be vnreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harberous, apt to teache,
Basi, kiongozi wa kanisa anapaswa awe mtu asiye na lawama; anapaswa awe na mke mmoja tu, awe mwenye kiasi, nidhamu na utaratibu; ni lazima awe mkarimu na anayeweza kufundisha;
3 Not giuen to wine, no striker, not giuen to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not couetous,
asiwe mlevi au mtu wa matata, bali awe mpole, apendaye amani; asiwe mtu wa kupenda fedha;
4 One that can rule his owne house honestly, hauing children vnder obedience with all honestie.
anapaswa awe mtu awezaye kuongoza vema nyumba yake, na kuwafanya watoto wake wawe watii kwa heshima yote.
5 For if any cannot rule his owne house, how shall he care for the Church of God?
Maana kama mtu hawezi kuongoza vema nyumba yake, atawezaje kulitunza kanisa la Mungu?
6 He may not be a yong scholer, lest he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the deuill.
Mtu ambaye hajakomaa bado katika imani asifanywe kuwa kiongozi katika kanisa, asije akajaa majivuno na kuhukumiwa kama vile Ibilisi alivyohukumiwa.
7 He must also be well reported of, euen of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the deuill.
Anapaswa awe mwenye sifa njema kati ya watu walio nje ya kanisa, ili asije akalaumiwa na kuanguka katika mtego wa Ibilisi.
8 Likewise must Deacons be graue, not double tongued, not giuen vnto much wine, neither to filthy lucre,
Wasaidizi katika kanisa wanapaswa pia kuwa watu wenye tabia njema na wanyofu; wasiwe wanywaji mno wa divai au wenye tamaa ya fedha;
9 Hauing the mysterie of the faith in pure conscience.
wanapaswa kuzingatia kwa dhamiri njema ukweli wa ndani wa imani.
10 And let them first be proued: then let them minister, if they be found blameles.
Ni lazima kwanza wathibitishwe, na wakionekana kuwa wanafaa, basi, watoe huduma yao.
11 Likewise their wiues must be honest, not euill speakers, but sober, and faithfull in all things.
Wake zao wanapaswa pia kuwa na tabia njema, wasiowasengenya watu, wenye kiasi na waaminifu katika mambo yote.
12 Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as can rule their children well, and their owne housholdes.
Msaidizi katika kanisa lazima awe na mke moja tu, na awezaye kuongoza vema watoto wake na nyumba yake.
13 For they that haue ministred well, get them selues a good degree, and great libertie in the faith, which is in Christ Iesus.
Maana wasaidizi wanaofanya kazi yao vizuri hujipatia msimamo mzuri, na wanaweza kusema bila hofu juu ya imani yao katika Kristo Yesu.
14 These things write I vnto thee, trusting to come very shortly vnto thee.
Ninakuandikia barua hii nikiwa na matumaini ya kuja kwako hivi karibuni.
15 But if I tary long, that thou maist yet know, how thou oughtest to behaue thy self in ye house of God, which is the Church of the liuing God, the pillar and ground of trueth.
Lakini kama nikicheleweshwa, basi, barua hii itakufahamisha mwenendo tunaopaswa kuwa nao katika nyumba ya Mungu, ambayo ni kanisa la Mungu aliye hai, na ambalo ni nguzo na msingi wa ukweli.
16 And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie.
Hakuna mashaka yoyote juu ya ukuu wa siri ya dini yetu: Alionekana katika umbo la kibinadamu alithibitishwa na Roho kuwa ni mwadilifu, akaonekana na malaika. Alihubiriwa kati ya mataifa, aliaminiwa popote ulimwenguni, akachukuliwa juu mbinguni katika utukufu.
