1 Timothy 3
1 If anyone, for oversight, is eager, a noble work, doth he covet: —
Msemo huu ni wa kweli: mtu akitaka kuwa kiongozi katika kanisa, huyo anatamani kazi nzuri.
2 It is needful, then, for, the overseer, to be irreproachable, a husband, of one wife, sober, of sound mind, orderly, hospitable, apt in teaching,
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 given to wine, not ready to wound, but considerate, averse to contention, not fond of money,
asiwe mlevi au mtu wa matata, bali awe mpole, apendaye amani; asiwe mtu wa kupenda fedha;
4 Over his own house, presiding, well, having, children, in submission, with all dignity;
anapaswa awe mtu awezaye kuongoza vema nyumba yake, na kuwafanya watoto wake wawe watii kwa heshima yote.
5 Whereas, if anyone, over his own house, cannot, preside, how, of an assembly of God, shall he take care?
Maana kama mtu hawezi kuongoza vema nyumba yake, atawezaje kulitunza kanisa la Mungu?
6 Not a new convert, lest, being beclouded, into the sentence of the adversary, he fall;
Mtu ambaye hajakomaa bado katika imani asifanywe kuwa kiongozi katika kanisa, asije akajaa majivuno na kuhukumiwa kama vile Ibilisi alivyohukumiwa.
7 It is needful, moreover, to have, an honourable testimony also, from them who are without, lest, into reproach, he fall, and the snare of the adversary.
Anapaswa awe mwenye sifa njema kati ya watu walio nje ya kanisa, ili asije akalaumiwa na kuanguka katika mtego wa Ibilisi.
8 Ministers, in the same way, —dignified, not double-tongued, not, to much wine, given, not greedy of base gain,
Wasaidizi katika kanisa wanapaswa pia kuwa watu wenye tabia njema na wanyofu; wasiwe wanywaji mno wa divai au wenye tamaa ya fedha;
9 Holding the sacred secret of the faith in a pure conscience;
wanapaswa kuzingatia kwa dhamiri njema ukweli wa ndani wa imani.
10 But let, these also, be proved first, then, let them be ministering, being, unaccusable:
Ni lazima kwanza wathibitishwe, na wakionekana kuwa wanafaa, basi, watoe huduma yao.
11 Wives, in the same way, —dignified, not given to intrigue, sober, faithful in all things.
Wake zao wanapaswa pia kuwa na tabia njema, wasiowasengenya watu, wenye kiasi na waaminifu katika mambo yote.
12 Let, ministers, be husbands of, one wife, over children, presiding, well, and over their own houses;
Msaidizi katika kanisa lazima awe na mke moja tu, na awezaye kuongoza vema watoto wake na nyumba yake.
13 For, they who have ministered well, a good degree for themselves, are acquiring, and great freedom of speech in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Maana wasaidizi wanaofanya kazi yao vizuri hujipatia msimamo mzuri, na wanaweza kusema bila hofu juu ya imani yao katika Kristo Yesu.
14 These things, unto thee, I am writing, hoping to come [unto thee] shortly, —
Ninakuandikia barua hii nikiwa na matumaini ya kuja kwako hivi karibuni.
15 But, if I should tarry, that thou mayest know—how it behoveth, in a house of God, to behave oneself, —the which, is an assembly of a Living God, a pillar and basement of the truth; —
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, confessedly great, is the sacred secret of godliness, —Who was made manifest in flesh, was declared righteous in spirit, was made visible unto messengers, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
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.
