1 Timotheo 3
1 Obhwaiki bhunu ni bhwo kwiikanyibhwa: Labha omunu kenda kubha Mutangasha, kenda milimu je kisi.
Faithful is the saying, "If any one is eager to have the oversight of a Church, he desires a noble work."
2 Kulwejo omutangasha jimwiile asige okulomwa kubhibhi. Jimwiile abhe mulume wo mugasi umwi. Jimwiile abhe wo kwibhalila omwengeso, abhe wo bhwitondo, mufula. Jiile abhe no bhutulo bhwo kwiigisha.
A minister then must be a man of irreproachable character, true to his one wife, temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved, hospitable to strangers, and with a gift for teaching;
3 Asige okunywa obhwalwa, asige kulwana, nawe abhe mwololo, abhe wo mulembe. Jimwiile asige kubha wo kwenda jimpilya.
not a hard drinker nor given to blows; not selfish or quarrelsome or covetous;
4 Jimwiile emelegululu abhanu bha munyumba yaye omwene, na abhana bhaye bheile bhamungwe mu chibhalo chone.
but ruling his own household wisely and well, with children kept under control with true dignity.
5 Kulwo kubha omunu akabha atakumenya okwimelegululu abhanu bha mu nyumba yaye omwene, katula kutiki okwimelegululu likanisa lya Nyamuanga?
(If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how shall he have the Church of God given into his care?)
6 Asige kubha mwikilisha muyaya, koleleki asiga kwikuya no kugwa mu ndamu lwo mujabhi uliya.
He ought not to be a new convert, for fear he should be blinded with pride and come under the same condemnation as the Devil.
7 Jiile abhe na jintungwa je kisi ku bhona bha anja, kuleleki ataja kugwa mu nswalo na mu njilo jo mujabhi.
It is needful also that he bear a good character with people outside the Church, lest he fall into reproach or a snare of the Devil.
8 Abhafurubhendi, kutyo kutyo jibheile kubha bhanu bhe chibhalo, bhasiga kubha bha nyaika ebhili. Bhasige okunywa obhwalwa kwo kusagilila amwi okubha na inamba.
Deacons, in the same way, must be men of serious demeanour, not double-tongued, nor addicted to much wine, nor greedy of base gain,
9 Bhatule okubhika kwo mwoyo omwelu echimali che likilisha chinu chafundukuywe.
but holding the secret truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 Bhabhe bhekelisibhwa kwamba, nio bhatule okufulubhenda kulwo kubha bhatana chikujulo.
And they must also be well-tried men, and when found to be of unblemished character then let them serve as deacons.
11 Abhagasi one bhabhe bhe chibhalo. Bhasige kubha bhabheelesha. Bhabhe no kwibhalila na bhalengelesi mu misango jone.
Deaconesses, in the same way, must be sober-minded women, not slanderers, but in every way temperate and trustworthy.
12 Abhafulubhendi jibheile bhabhe bhalume bho mugasi umwi umwi. Jibheile bhemelegululu kisi abhana bhebhwe na bha mu nyumba yebhwe.
A deacon must be true to his one wife, and rule his children and his own household wisely and well.
13 Kulwo kubha bhanu abhatangasha kisi abhabhona obhwima bhwekisi no bhubhasi bhunene mu likilisha linu lili mu Kristo Yesu.
For those who have filled the deacon's office wisely and well, are already gaining for themselves an honourable standing, and are acquiring great freedom of speech in proclaiming the faith which rests on Christ Jesus.
14 Enandika emisango jinu kwawe, na eniikanya okuja kwawe woli wolyanu.
All this I write to you, though I am hoping before long to come to see you.
15 Mbe nawe labha nikakola, enandika koleleki ubhone okumenya akalibhatiye ka mu nyumba ya Nyamuanga, inu ili likanisa lya Nyamuanga unu ali muanga, ng'ingi no musakisi we chimali.
But, for fear I may be hindered, I now write, so that you may have rules to guide you in dealing with God's household. For this is what the Church of the ever-living God is, and it is the pillar and foundation-stone of the truth.
16 Nolwo kutaliwo kubhambala ati echimali cho Bhuungu chinu chasuluywe ni chikulu: “Abhonekene mu mubhili, nelesibhwa no Mwoyo Omwelu, nabhonekana na malaika, nalasibhwa agati ya maanga, nekilisibhwa ne chalo, nagegwa ingulu mwi kusho.”
And, beyond controversy, great is the mystery of our religion-- that Christ appeared in human form, and His claims justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels and proclaimed among Gentile nations, was believed on in the world, and received up again into glory.
