1 Timoti 3
1 Herino shoko rechokwadi: kana munhu achitsvaka basa romutariri, anoda basa rinokudzika.
Faithful is the saying, "If any one is eager to have the oversight of a Church, he desires a noble work."
2 Zvino mutariri anofanira kuva munhu asina chaangapomerwa, murume womukadzi mumwe chete, anozvidzora, anokudzwa, anoitira vaeni rudo, anoziva kudzidzisa,
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 asingadhakwi, asingarwi uye ano unyoro, asina gakava, asingakariri mari.
not a hard drinker nor given to blows; not selfish or quarrelsome or covetous;
4 Anofanira kubata imba yake zvakanaka nokuona kuti vana vake vanomuteerera uye vachimukudza zvakanaka.
but ruling his own household wisely and well, with children kept under control with true dignity.
5 (Kana munhu asingazivi kubata imba yake zvakanaka, angachengeta seiko kereke yaMwari?)
(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 Asava mutendi mutsva, nokuti angazozvikudza akazotongwa zvimwe chetezvo sadhiabhori.
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 Anofanirawo kupupurirwa zvakanaka navari kunze, kuitira kuti arege kuzvidzwa, uye agowira mumusungo wadhiabhori.
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 Saizvozvowo, madhikoni ngavave vanhu vanokudzwa, vanorevesa, vasinganwi waini zhinji, uye vasingatsvaki pfuma yakaipa.
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 Vanofanira kuchengetedza zvakadzikadzika zvokutenda nehana yakanaka.
but holding the secret truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 Vanofanira kutanga vaedzwa, uye kana pasina chavangapomerwa, ngavashumire samadhikoni.
And they must also be well-tried men, and when found to be of unblemished character then let them serve as deacons.
11 Nenzira imwe cheteyo, vakadzi vavo ngavave vanokudzwa, vasingacheri vamwe asi vanozvidzora, vakatendeka pazvinhu zvose.
Deaconesses, in the same way, must be sober-minded women, not slanderers, but in every way temperate and trustworthy.
12 Mudhikoni anofanira kuva murume ano mukadzi mumwe chete uye anofanira kugona kubata vana vake nemba yake zvakanaka.
A deacon must be true to his one wife, and rule his children and his own household wisely and well.
13 Vaya vakashumira zvakanaka vanozviwanira zita rakanaka uye nokusimbiswa kukuru pakutenda kwavo muna Kristu Jesu.
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 Kunyange zvazvo ndine tariro yokuuya kwauri nokukurumidza, ndinokunyorera dzidziso idzi kuitira kuti,
All this I write to you, though I am hoping before long to come to see you.
15 kana ndikanonoka, uchaziva kuti vanhu vanofanira kuzvibata sei mumba maMwari, inova kereke yaMwari mupenyu, mbiru nenheyo yechokwadi.
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 Pasina kana mubvunzo, chakavanzika choumwari chikuru kwazvo: Iye akaratidzwa panyama, akaruramiswa noMweya, akaonekwa navatumwa, akaparidzwa pakati pendudzi panyika vakatenda kwaari, akakwidzwa mukubwinya.
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.
