1 Timothy 3
1 Diambu diadi didi dikuikama: “Woso mutu lembo tombi ba ntuadisi mu Dibundu; niandi tidi kisalu kimboti.”
This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.
2 Bufueni kuidi ntuadisi mu ba mutu wukambulu tsembolo, kafueti ba bakala widi nketo wumosi kaka, kalendi ba phulu dia ayi nua ko, kafueti ba nkua nduenga; kafueti ba mutu zebi kukiyala mu luzingu luandi, zebi yakula bumboti banzenza, zebi longa,
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
3 kanuanga malavu ko, kanuananga ko vayi widi nlembami, kasi nkua ziphaka ko, kasi khunia zimbongo ko.
not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4 Kaba mutu zebi diatisa bumboti nzoꞌandi, zebi nata bumboti bana bandi ku bulemvo; mu lukinzu loso.
one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
5 Vayi enati mutu kasi zaba diatisa nzoꞌandi ko, buna buevi kalenda kebila Dibundu di Nzambi e?
(for how could someone who does not know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)
6 Mutu beni kabika ba mutu wutambudi bosi phulusu muingi kabika baluniemo ayi kabika zengolo nkanu banga wowo wuzengolo Satana.
not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
7 Muaki kafueti ba kimbangi kimboti va meso ma batu bobo badi ku nganda, muingi kabika fua tsoni ayi kabika bua mu ntambu wu Satana.
Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Bobuawu kuidi bisadi, bifueti ba mamvawu batu ba lukinzu, batu bantubanga mambu ma kiedika kaka, banuanga malavu mawombo ko, babakanga zimbongo mu luvunu ko.
Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,
9 Bafueti zaba lundanga mansueki ma minu mu mayindu mamboti ma ntima ayi mavedila.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 Bafueti tuama totu, bosi basala bu bamonikini batu bakambulu tsembolo.
Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
11 Bobuawu baketo, mamvawu bafueti ba baketo ba lukinzu, batubidilanga batu ku ndambu ko, basi ko phulu yi dia ayi yi nua ko, bakuikama mu mamo.
Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.
12 Bika bisadi biba babakala biba babakala bakuela nketo wumosi-wumosi kaka, bizaba diatisa bumboti bana bawu ayi zinzo ziawu veka.
Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 Bila babo bansala bumboti bammonikanga batu ba lukinzu ayi babeki diana dinneni mu minu kidi mu Klisto Yesu.
For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 Ndilembo sonikina mambu mama bila diana didi uama mu vika kuiza kudingeyo;
These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,
15 vayi enati ndikidi zingila diodi didi mu diambu wuzaba buevi wufueti zingila mu Nzo yi Nzambi, yoyi yidi Dibundu di Nzambi yi moyo, dikunzi ayi zingumunu ki kiedika.
but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 Ayi mu kambu findisa ziphaka: mansueki ma luzitu lu Nzambi madi manneni. Nzambi wumonika mu lunitu lu nsuni Wukitulu wusonga mu pheve Zimbasi zimmona Wulongu muidi Bapakanu Nzo yinwilukila, Wutombolo mu nkembo.
Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
