< Timoteo 1 3 >
1 Enye nyateƒenya be ne ame aɖe di be yeawɔ hamedzikpɔla ƒe dɔ la, etia dɔ nyuitɔ.
It is a faithful saying: if a man desires the episcopate, he desires a good work.
2 Azɔ la, ele na hamedzikpɔla be wòanye mokakamanɔŋutɔ, nyɔnu ɖeka ko srɔ̃, ame si fa tu, ɖokuidziɖula, ame si ŋu bubu le, amedzrowɔla, ame si nya nufiafia
Therefore, it is necessary for a bishop to be beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, gracious, chaste, hospitable, a teacher,
3 menye ahatsunola o, menye ame si wɔa nu gbodogbodo o, ke boŋ ewɔa nu le bɔbɔenyenye me, menye dzrewɔla alo galɔ̃la o.
not a drunkard, not combative but restrained, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4 Ele vevie be wòanye ame si kpɔa eƒe aƒe dzi nyuie, eye vi ɖotowo le esi.
but a man who leads his own house well, having children who are subordinate with all chastity.
5 (Elabena ne ŋutsu aɖe mate ŋu akpɔ eƒe aƒe sue la dzi be woanɔ agbe nyui o la, aleke wòawɔ akpɔ Mawu ƒe hame dzi?)
For if a man does not know how to lead his own house, how will he take care of the Church of God?
6 Mele be wòanye ame si ƒe dzimetrɔɣi medidi o, elabena ne menye nenema o la, dada ayɔ eya amea me, eye wòadze anyi le ʋɔnudɔdrɔ̃ si va Abosam dzi la te.
He must not be a new convert, lest, being elated by pride, he may fall under the sentence of the devil.
7 Ele na hamedzikpɔla be wòakpɔ ɖaseɖiɖi nyui tso hamea godotɔwo hã gbɔ, ale be mage adze vlododo kple Abosam ƒe mɔ me o.
And it is necessary for him also to have good testimony from those who are outside, so that he may not fall into disrepute and the snare of the devil.
8 Nenema kee wòle na subɔlawo hã be woanye ame siwo ŋu bubu le kple nyateƒetɔwo, menye ahatsunolawo kple ame siwo tia viɖe ƒoɖiwo yome o.
Similarly, deacons must be chaste, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not pursuing tainted profit,
9 Ele na wo be woalé xɔse la ƒe nyateƒe detowo me ɖe asi kple dzitsinya nyui.
holding to the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
10 Ele be woado wo kpɔ gbã, eye ne naneke meku ɖe o ŋu o la, woaɖe mɔ woawɔ subɔla ƒe dɔ.
And these things should be proven first, and then they may minister, being without offense.
11 Ele na wo srɔ̃nyɔnuwo be woanye ame ɖɔŋuɖowo, ke menye ahatsunolawo kple amenyagblɔlawo o, ke boŋ woawɔ nuteƒe le nu sia nu me.
Similarly, the women must be chaste, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Subɔlawo nanye srɔ̃ ɖeka tɔwo, eye dzidzɔ kple toɖoɖo nanɔ woƒe aƒewo me.
Deacons should be the husband of one wife, men who lead their own children and their own houses well.
13 Kpeɖeŋutɔ siwo wɔ dɔ nyuie la ƒe fetu anye be amewo naɖo bubu na wo, eye woawo ŋutɔ ƒe dzideƒo kple xɔse le Yesu Kristo me hã atsi ɖe edzi.
For those who have ministered well will acquire for themselves a good position, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 Togbɔ be mele mɔ kpɔm be mava mia gbɔ kpuie hã la, mele nu siawo ŋlɔm na mi,
I am writing these things to you, with the hope that I will come to you soon.
15 ale be ne nye vava he ɖe megbe hã la, miate ŋu anya ale si miazɔ le Mawu ƒe aƒe si nye Mawu gbagbe la ƒe ha, si lé Mawu ƒe nyateƒe la me ɖe asi sesĩe la me.
But, if I am delayed, you should know the manner in which it is necessary to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and the foundation of truth.
16 Enye nyateƒe be mawumegbenɔnɔ mele bɔbɔe o, gake ele bɔbɔe le Kristo ta, ame si va anyigba dzi abe ame ene. Ɖiƒoƒo aɖeke menɔ eŋuti o, eye wòdza le eƒe gbɔgbɔ me. Mawudɔlawo kpɔe, eye wogblɔ mawunya tso eŋuti le dukɔwo dome. Amewo xɔ edzi se le afi sia afi si wòyi, eye wogaxɔe ɖe eƒe ŋutikɔkɔe me le dziƒo.
And it is clearly great, this mystery of piety, which was manifested in the flesh, which was justified in the Spirit, which has appeared to Angels, which has been preached to the Gentiles, which is believed in the world, which has been taken up in glory.