Tito 1
1 Mimi Paulo, mtumishi wa Mungu na mtume wa Yesu Kristo naandika. Mimi nimechaguliwa kuijenga imani ya wateule wa Mungu na kuwaongoza waufahamu ukweli wa dini yetu,
From Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, on behalf of the faith of God’s chosen people, and their knowledge of that truth which makes for godliness
2 ambayo msingi wake ni tumaini la kupata uzima wa milele. Mungu ambaye hasemi uongo, alituahidia uzima huo kabla ya mwanzo wa nyakati, (aiōnios g166)
– and is based on the hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began, (aiōnios g166)
3 na wakati ufaao ulipowadia, akaudhihirisha katika ujumbe wake. Mimi nilikabidhiwa ujumbe huo nuutangaze kufuatana na amri ya Mungu, Mwokozi wetu.
and has revealed at his own time in his message, with the preaching of which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior.
4 Ninakuandikia wewe Tito, mwanangu wa kweli katika imani tunayoshiriki. Nakutakia neema na amani kutoka kwa Mungu Baba, na kutoka kwa Kristo Yesu, Mkombozi wetu.
To Titus, my true child in our shared faith: May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Savior, bless you and give you peace.
5 Nilikuacha Krete ili urekebishe yale mambo ambayo hayakuwa yamekamilika bado, na kuwateua wazee wa kanisa katika kila mji. Kumbuka maagizo yangu:
My reason for leaving you in Crete was that you might put in order what had been left unfinished, and appoint church elders in the various towns, as I myself directed you.
6 mzee wa kanisa anapaswa kuwa mtu asiye na hatia; aliye na mke mmoja tu, na watoto wake wanapaswa kuwa waumini, wasiojulikana kuwa wakorofi au wakaidi.
They are to be of irreproachable character, faithful to their partners, whose children are believers in Christ and have never been open to the charge of being wild or unruly.
7 Maana kwa vile kiongozi wa kanisa ni mkurugenzi wa kazi ya Mungu, anapaswa kuwa mtu asiye na hatia. Asiwe mwenye majivuno, mwepesi wa hasira, mlevi, mkorofi au mchoyo.
For a supervisor, as God’s steward, ought to be of blameless character – not arrogant or quick-tempered, not given to drunkeness, violence or shady money-making.
8 Anapaswa kuwa mkarimu na anayependa mambo mema. Anapaswa kuwa mtu mtaratibu, mwadilifu, mtakatifu na mwenye nidhamu.
Instead, they should be hospitable, love what is good, self-controlled, upright, people of holy life and disciplined,
9 Ni lazima ashike kikamilifu ujumbe ule wa kuaminika kama unavyofundishwa. Ndivyo atakavyoweza kuwatia wengine moyo kwa mafundisho ya kweli na kuyafichua makosa ya wale wanaoyapinga mafundisho hayo.
holding firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught – so that they may be able to encourage others by sound teaching, as well as to refute those who contradict it.
10 Maana, wako watu wengi, hasa wale walioongoka kutoka dini ya Kiyahudi, ambao ni wakaidi, wanaowapotosha wengine kwa upumbavu wao.
For there are many undisciplined persons who lead others astray with their nonsense, especially those of the group advocating the necessity of circumcision.
11 Lazima kukomesha maneno yao, kwani wanavuruga jumuiya nzima kwa kufundisha mambo ambayo hawapaswi kufundisha; wanafanya hivyo kwa nia mbaya ya kupata faida ya fedha.
They need to be kept quiet as they disrupt whole households by teaching what they ought not to teach, simply to make shameful financial gain.
12 Hata mmoja wa manabii wao, ambaye naye pia ni Mkrete, alisema: “Wakrete, husema uongo daima; ni kama wanyama wabaya, walafi na wavivu!”
It was a Cretan – one of their own prophets – who said: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.’ This statement is true.
13 Naye alitoboa ukweli kwa sababu hiyo, unapaswa kuwakaripia vikali, ili wawe na imani kamilifu.
Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith,
14 Wasiendelee kushikilia hadithi tupu za Kiyahudi na maagizo ya kibinadamu yanayozuka kwa watu walioukataa ukweli.
and may pay no attention to Jewish legends, or to the directions of those who turn their backs on the truth.
15 Kila kitu ni safi kwa watu walio safi; lakini hakuna chochote kilicho safi kwa wale waliochafuliwa na wasioamini, maana dhamiri na akili zao zimechafuliwa.
To those whose minds are pure, all things are ritually pure, but to those whose minds are tainted and unbelieving nothing is pure, as their minds and consciences are alike polluted.
16 Watu kama hao hujidai kwamba wanamjua Mungu, lakini kwa matendo yao humkana. Ni watu wa kuchukiza mno na wakaidi, hawafai kwa jambo lolote jema.
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable and disobedient and useless for any good work.
