1 Timote 3

1 Ko e tala moʻoni eni, Kapau ʻoku holi ʻe ha tangata ki he ngaue ʻoe faifekau, ʻoku holi ia ki ha ngaue lelei.

Anyone who aspires to be an elder [in the congregation] (OR, a bishop) desires a noble/honorable task.

2 Ko ia ʻoku totonu ke taʻehalaia ʻae faifekau, ke mali mo e fefine pe taha ke faʻa tokanga, mo anga fakapotopoto, ʻo anga matamatalelei, mo angaʻofa, ʻo faʻa ako:

[Since that is a task that others should respect], an overseer must [live] in such a way that [no one] can truly (say that he has done [anything that is] wrong/find fault with him). Specifically, [he must be] faithful to his wife. He must think clearly [about what he does]. He must be able to control his behavior. He must be sensible. He must be dignified/respectable. He must welcome and care for guests. He must be able to teach [God’s truth] well.

3 ‌ʻO ʻikai faʻa inu uaine, ʻo ʻikai ko e faʻa tā, pe ko e holi ki he koloa ʻuli; kae faʻa kātaki, pea ʻe ʻikai te ne fakakikihi, pe manumanu;

He must not be a drunkard. He must not be ready/quick to fight [those who make him angry]. On the contrary, he must be gentle and he must not be quarrelsome. He must not be greedy for a lot of money.

4 Ko e tokotaha ʻoku pule lelei ki hono fale ʻoʻona, ʻi he anga fakamotuʻa kotoa pē kuo anganofo ʻene fānau kiate ia;

He must lead and care for his own household/family well. For example, he must be a man whom his children obey and completely respect,

5 He kapau ʻoku ʻikai ʻilo ʻe ha tangata ke pule ʻi hono fale ʻoʻona, ʻe fēfē koā ʻene tauhi ʻae siasi ʻoe ʻOtua?

because if anyone does not know how he should lead well and care for well the people who live in his own house, (he certainly cannot care for God’s congregation!/how can he care for God’s congregation?) [RHQ]

6 ‌ʻIkai ko e taha toki liliu, telia naʻa vikiviki ia ʻi he laukau, pea tō ai ia ki he malaʻiaʻanga ʻoe tēvolo:

He must not be one who has just recently [trusted in Jesus], because [if you choose a man] like that, he might become conceited/proud [because you chose him so soon]. As a result of his being conceited/proud, God will condemn him like he condemned the devil [because he was conceited/proud].

7 Pea ʻoku totonu foki ke ongoongolelei ia ʻiate kinautolu ʻoku ʻi tuaʻā; naʻa tō ia ki he manuki mo e hele ʻae tēvolo.

Moreover, [an elder must live] in such a way that non-Christians speak well of him, because [if he conducts himself like] that, people will not say evil things about him, and the devil will not capture/trap him [MET] [like people capture animals] in a trap.

8 Pea ke anga fakamotuʻa ʻae kau akonaki foki, ʻoua naʻa felohiʻaki, ʻoua naʻa faʻa inu uaine, pe holi ki he koloa ʻuli;

[Those whom you choose to serve as] deacons likewise [must be ones who conduct themselves suitably/appropriately. Specifically], they must be (serious/worthy that people respect them). They must (be sincere/mean what they say). They must not like to drink a lot of alcohol. They must not (be greedy/have a strong desire to get money).

9 Kae puke maʻu ʻae meʻa fakalilolilo ʻoe tui ʻi he ʻatamai lelei.

They must sincerely believe the message that [God] has now revealed [to us].

10 Pea ke fuofua ʻahiʻahi kiate kinautolu ni foki; pea nau toki hoko ki he ngaue ʻoe akonaki, kuo taʻehalaia.

[Like you do for the elders], you must examine ([their character/how they conduct their lives]) [before you appoint them to serve]. Then if they are without fault, let them serve as deacons.

11 Pea ke anga fakalongo pē ʻa [honau ]uaifi, ʻikai ko e kau fakakovi, kae anga fakapotopoto, ʻo angatotonu ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē.

Their wives (OR, The women who are deacons) likewise [must conduct themselves suitably/appropriately. Specifically, they must be] (serious/worthy that people respect them). They must not speak evil about people. They must not drink a lot of alcohol. They must be faithful in everything that they do.

12 Pea ke mali taki tokotaha ʻae kau akonaki mo e fefine pe taha, ʻo puleʻi lelei ʻenau fānau mo honau fale ʻonautolu.

Deacons must be faithful to their wives, and they must lead well and care well for their children and [other] people in their houses.

13 He ko kinautolu kuo fai ʻo lelei ʻae ngaue ʻae akonaki, te nau maʻu kiate kinautolu ʻae hikiʻanga lelei, mo e mālohi lahi ʻi he tui ʻaia ʻoku ʻia Kalaisi Sisu.

Because if deacons serve well, people will respect them, and they will be able [to speak] very boldly/confidently about what they believe concerning Christ Jesus.

14 Ko e ngaahi meʻa ni ʻoku ou tohi atu kiate koe, ʻi heʻeku ʻamanaki ʻe vave ʻeku ʻalu atu kiate koe:

Although I hope that I will come and visit you soon, I am writing these things to you [now]

15 Kae ʻilonga ʻeku tuai atu, pea ke ʻilo ʻaia ʻoku totonu ke ke fai ʻe koe ʻi he fale ʻoe ʻOtua, ʻaia ko e siasi ʻoe ʻOtua moʻui, ko hono pou mo e tuʻunga ʻoe moʻoni.

in order that if I (am delayed/things prevent me from visiting to you soon), you will know how believers should conduct their lives [and you will be able to teach that to them]. [I am talking about] all those who are members of God’s family, all the congregations that belong to the all-powerful God, all those who uphold/support [MET] the true [message].

16 Pea ko e moʻoni ʻaupito ko e meʻa lahi ʻae meʻa fakalilolilo ʻoe lotu: ko e ʻOtua naʻe fakahā ʻi he kakano, naʻe fakamoʻoni ia ʻi he Laumālie, naʻe mamata kiate ia ʻae kau ʻāngelo, naʻe malangaʻaki ia ki he Senitaile, naʻe tui kiate ia ʻi māmani, pea maʻu hake ia ki he nāunau.

It is certainly true that [the message that God] has now revealed is very wonderful! From it, we learn this spiritual truth that we say/sing about [Christ] (OR, We affirm this teaching to be true and very important.) It is what shows us how to live (in a godly manner/in a manner that pleases God). It is what God has now revealed, even though it was not known before. [We] ([affirm/say that it is true]) concerning Jesus Christ that, He is the one who appeared on the earth in a human body. God’s Spirit showed/demonstrated that he is/was truly the Messiah (OR, that he always acted righteously); Angels saw him; people preached about him in many nations; People in many parts of the world believed the message about him. God took him up into heaven.