1 Timothy 3
1 How true is this saying: “To aspire to be to be a supervisor in the church is to be ambitious for a noble task.”
Lithembekile ilizwielithi: Uba umuntu efisa isikhundla sombonisi, ufisa umsebenzi omuhle;
2 The supervisor should be of blameless character; a faithful partner; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skilful teacher,
ngakho kumele ukuthi umbonisi abe ngongasolekiyo, indoda yomfazi munye, ozithintayo, oqondileyo, oziphatha ngokufaneleyo, ophatha kuhle izihambi, olelisu lokufundisa;
3 not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money;
angabi yisidakwa, angabi ngothanda ukulwa, anganxwaneli inzuzo embi, kodwa abe mnene, angabi ngothanda ukuxabana, angabi ngothanda imali;
4 they should provide for their own household well, and their children should kept under control and be well-behaved.
ephatha kuhle owakhe umuzi, elabantwana abalalela ngenhlonipho yonke,
5 If someone does not know how to provide for their own household, how can they take charge of the church of God?
ngoba uba umuntu engakwazi ukuphatha owakhe umuzi, angaligcina njani ibandla likaNkulunkulu?
6 The supervisor should not be a recent convert, or they might become blinded by pride and fall under the same judgement as the devil.
Kangabi ngosanda ukukholwa, hlezi ngokukhukhunyezwa awele ekulahlweni kukadiyabhola.
7 They should also be well spoken of by outsiders, so that they may not incur censure and so fall into the devil’s trap.
Kumele futhi ukuthi abe lobufakazi obuhle kwabangaphandle, hlezi awele ekuthukweni lemjibileni kadiyabhola.
8 So, too, assistants should be serious and straightforward, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making,
Ngokunjalo abadikoni bahlonipheke, bangabi ndimimbili, bangananzi iwayini elinengi, bangafisi inzuzo embi,
9 but people who hold the deep truths of the faith and have a clear conscience.
babambe imfihlo yokholo esazeleni esimhlophe.
10 They should be tested first, and only appointed to their office if no objection is raised against them.
Laba-ke kabaqale bahlolwe, okulandelayo kabakhonze uba bengasoleki.
11 It should be the same with the women in this office. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects.
Ngokunjalo omkabo babe ngabahloniphekayo, abanganyeyiyo, abazithintayo, bethembekile ezintweni zonke.
12 Assistants should be faithful partners who manage their children and their households well.
Abadikoni kababe ngamadoda amfazi munye, aphatha kuhle abantwana leyawo imizi.
13 Those who have filled that post with honour gain for themselves an honourable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus.
Ngoba abakhonze kuhle bazizuzela isimilo esihle, lesibindi esikhulu ekholweni olukuKristu Jesu.
14 I am writing this to you, though I hope that I will come to see you before long;
Lezizinto ngikubhalela zona, ngithemba ukuza kuwe masinyane;
15 but in case I should be delayed, I want you to know what your conduct ought to be in the household of God, which is the church of the living God – the pillar and stay of the truth.
kodwa uba ngibambeka, ukuze wazi ukuthi kufanele uziphathe njani endlini kaNkulunkulu, elibandla likaNkulunkulu ophilayo, insika lesisekelo seqiniso.
16 Yes, and undeniably wonderful are the deep truths of our religion; for – “He was revealed in our nature, pronounced righteous in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.”
Kuyavunywa-ke ukuthi yinkulu imfihlo yokukhonza uNkulunkulu: UNkulunkulu wabonakaliswa enyameni, wathiwa ulungile kuMoya, wabonwa zingilosi, watshunyayelwa ezizweni, wakholeka emhlabeni, wenyuselwa ebukhosini.
