< Titosy 1 >
1 Paoly, mpanompon’ Andriamanitra sy Apostolin’ i Jesosy Kristy hampandroso ny finoan’ ny olom-boafidin’ Andriamanitra sy ny fahalalana tsara ny marina izay manaraka ny toe-panahy araka an’ Andriamanitra,
I, Paul, [am writing this letter to you, Titus]. [God appointed me to be] his servant and [to be] an apostle [who represents] Jesus Christ. [God appointed me in order that I might teach] those whom God has chosen [to be his people] to [correctly] believe [in him]. He wants me to teach them the true [teachings about God], in order that they will learn to behave (in a [godly manner/] a [manner that pleases God]).
2 amin’ ny fanantenana ny fiainana mandrakizay izay nampanantenain’ Andriamanitra tsy mahay mandainga hatry ny fony fahagola; (aiōnios )
[As a result of my doing these things, his people] confidently expect that God will cause them to live forever. God, who never lies, promised before he created the world that [his people] would live forever. (aiōnios )
3 fa tamin’ izay andro voatendry dia nasehony ny teniny tamin’ ny tori-teny izay natolotra ho adidiko, araka ny didin’ Andriamanitra, Mpamonjy antsika;
Then at the time that he [chose], he revealed [to us his] message. [Specifically], God our Savior gave this message to me, and he trusted me to proclaim it to people.
4 ho an’ i Titosy, tena zanako araka ny finoana iombonantsika, anie ny fahasoavana sy ny fiadanana avy amin’ Andriamanitra Ray sy Kristy Jesosy, Mpamonjy antsika.
Titus, [I am writing this letter] to [you because you are like] a true son [MET] [to me because I led/helped you to] believe the same [teachings about Christ that I do]. ([I pray that/May]) [God our Father and Christ Jesus our Savior will continue to] act kindly toward you and cause you to have [inner] peace.
5 Izao no namelako anao tany Kreta, dia ny handaminanao izay mbola tsy tanteraka sy hanendrenao loholona amin’ ny isan-tanàna, araka ny nandidiako anao;
When I [asked you] to stay on Crete [island], I wanted you to do these things: [Teach the believers what they need to know so that they] can understand correctly the [spiritual] matters about which some are teaching wrongly. Appoint elders [in the congregation] in each town in the manner in which I told you to do.
6 raha misy tsy manan-tsiny, dia lehilahy manambady tokana, manana zanaka mino izay tsy mba ampangaina ho mpanaram-po amin’ ny ratsy na ho maditra.
[When you appoint men as elders], you must choose men whom no one can [justly] accuse of [habitually] doing what is wrong (OR, whom everyone speaks well of). Specifically, appoint men who have been faithful to their wives. Appoint men whose children faithfully obey [them. Do not appoint men whose children habitually] do all the things that their bodies urge them to do, or who refuse to obey their parents.
7 Fa ny mpitandrina dia tsy maintsy ho tsy manan-tsiny, fa mpitandrina ny an’ Andriamanitra, tsy mitompo teny fantatra, tsy mora tezitra, tsy mpimamo lian’ ady, tsy mpikapoka, tsy tia harena maloto,
Leaders [of the congregation] must be [men] who, as everyone knows, habitually do what is good (OR, [whom] no one can [justly] accuse of doing what is wrong), because it is on God’s behalf that they will direct/serve [the congregation. Specifically, they must] not be arrogant/proud. They must not easily become angry. They must not [be men who] drink much alcohol. They must not [be men who] ([act] violently/fight) [when they are angry. They must] not [be men who are] (greedy for/strongly desire to get) money.
8 fa mampiantrano vahiny, tia ny tsara, mahonon-tena, marina, masìna, mahonom-po,
Instead, they must be ones who welcome and take care of guests. They must (be devoted to/like to do) what is good. They must do [what God considers] to be right. They must be (holy/completely dedicated to God). They must be men who do what their minds tell them is right to do [and not what their emotions/desires urge them to do].
9 mitana mafy ny teny marina araka ny efa nampianarina, mba hahaizany hananatra amin’ ny fampianarana tsy misy kilema sady handresy lahatra ny mpanohitra.
They must firmly believe in the message [about Jesus Christ] exactly as [I/we(inc)] taught it, in order that they might be able to teach [the believers] what is correct and to urge [them to follow it well. If they firmly accept our message], they will be able to convince those who oppose [what is correct that they are wrong].
10 Fa maro no maditra, mpitaria foana sy mpamitaka, indrindra fa ny avy amin’ ny voafora ―
[I say this] because there are many [people who oppose the correct teachings]. They refuse to obey people who have authority over them, they talk ([on and on/without stopping]), saying what helps no one, and they deceive people. The Jewish [believers] [MTY] [who insist we must obey all the Jewish rituals are] especially [doing this].
11 tsy maintsy hotampenam-bava ireo ― izay mampivadika mpianakavy maro, fa mampianatra izay tsy mety, mba hahazoany harena maloto.
[You and the leaders whom you appoint] should prevent such people from teaching [the believers]. They are causing whole families to stop believing in the correct teachings [MET] by means of their teaching [people wrong ideas/teachings. They are teaching people only] in order that people will give them money, [which is very] shameful [for them to do].
12 Hoy ny anankiray amin’ ireny, izay mpaminany teo aminy: “Mpandainga mandrakariva ny Kretana, biby ratsy, kamo be tenda”.
A man from Crete [island] whom [they consider] a prophet said, “[My fellow] Cretan people are always lying [to one another! They are like dangerous] wild animals [MET]! They are lazy and always eat too much food [SYN]!”
13 Marina izany vavolombelona izany. Ary noho izany dia anaro mafy izy mba hatanjaka amin’ ny finoana,
The words that this man said [about the Cretan people] are [still] true, [especially about their being liars]. So, rigorously convince/show [those Cretan believers] that those [false teachings] are wrong. Tell them to [firmly] believe in the correct teachings.
14 tsy mitandrina ny anganonganon’ ny Jiosy sy ny didin’ ny olona izay mivily miala amin’ ny fahamarinana.
[Teach them that] they should no [longer] listen to the stories that the Jews (made up/invented). [Especially] they should refuse to obey those who reject our true teachings, because those people are teaching things that only come from human beings, [not from God].
15 Madio avokoa ny zavatra rehetra raha amin’ ny olona madio; fa raha amin’ ny olona voaloto sady tsy mino kosa dia tsy misy madio na inona na inona; fa voaloto na ny sainy na ny fieritreretany.
[Believers should reject] what they teach about food, [because] no [food that we eat] can make us unacceptable to God if we are pure [in our] ([inner beings/hearts]). But if people are evil and they do not trust [in Christ Jesus], there is no [ritual] that can make them acceptable to God. Such people’s way of thinking has been ruined {Such people have ruined their way of thinking}, and they do not even feel guilty [when they do what is evil].
16 Manaiky fa mahalala an’ Andriamanitra izy, nefa mandà Azy amin’ ny asany, dia olona vetaveta sady tsy manaraka ary olona tsy izy, izay tsy manao asa tsara na inona na inona.
Even though they claim/say that they know God, by what they do they [show that they] do not know (God/his true teaching). They do not obey [God], and they are unable to do anything that he considers to be good. [So God considers them to be absolutely] disgusting!