1 Timothy 3
1 This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
Enye nyateƒenya be ne ame aɖe di be yeawɔ hamedzikpɔla ƒe dɔ la, etia dɔ nyuitɔ.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Azɔ la, ele na hamedzikpɔla be wòanye mokakamanɔŋutɔ, nyɔnu ɖeka ko srɔ̃, ame si fa tu, ɖokuidziɖula, ame si ŋu bubu le, amedzrowɔla, ame si nya nufiafia
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
menye ahatsunola o, menye ame si wɔa nu gbodogbodo o, ke boŋ ewɔa nu le bɔbɔenyenye me, menye dzrewɔla alo galɔ̃la o.
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
Ele vevie be wòanye ame si kpɔa eƒe aƒe dzi nyuie, eye vi ɖotowo le esi.
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
(Elabena ne ŋutsu aɖe mate ŋu akpɔ eƒe aƒe sue la dzi be woanɔ agbe nyui o la, aleke wòawɔ akpɔ Mawu ƒe hame dzi?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Mele be wòanye ame si ƒe dzimetrɔɣi medidi o, elabena ne menye nenema o la, dada ayɔ eya amea me, eye wòadze anyi le ʋɔnudɔdrɔ̃ si va Abosam dzi la te.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Ele na hamedzikpɔla be wòakpɔ ɖaseɖiɖi nyui tso hamea godotɔwo hã gbɔ, ale be mage adze vlododo kple Abosam ƒe mɔ me o.
8 Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Nenema kee wòle na subɔlawo hã be woanye ame siwo ŋu bubu le kple nyateƒetɔwo, menye ahatsunolawo kple ame siwo tia viɖe ƒoɖiwo yome o.
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
Ele na wo be woalé xɔse la ƒe nyateƒe detowo me ɖe asi kple dzitsinya nyui.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being [found] blameless.
Ele be woado wo kpɔ gbã, eye ne naneke meku ɖe o ŋu o la, woaɖe mɔ woawɔ subɔla ƒe dɔ.
11 Even so [must their] wives [be] grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Ele na wo srɔ̃nyɔnuwo be woanye ame ɖɔŋuɖowo, ke menye ahatsunolawo kple amenyagblɔlawo o, ke boŋ woawɔ nuteƒe le nu sia nu me.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Subɔlawo nanye srɔ̃ ɖeka tɔwo, eye dzidzɔ kple toɖoɖo nanɔ woƒe aƒewo me.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Kpeɖeŋutɔ siwo wɔ dɔ nyuie la ƒe fetu anye be amewo naɖo bubu na wo, eye woawo ŋutɔ ƒe dzideƒo kple xɔse le Yesu Kristo me hã atsi ɖe edzi.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
Togbɔ be mele mɔ kpɔm be mava mia gbɔ kpuie hã la, mele nu siawo ŋlɔm na mi,
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
ale be ne nye vava he ɖe megbe hã la, miate ŋu anya ale si miazɔ le Mawu ƒe aƒe si nye Mawu gbagbe la ƒe ha, si lé Mawu ƒe nyateƒe la me ɖe asi sesĩe la me.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Enye nyateƒe be mawumegbenɔnɔ mele bɔbɔe o, gake ele bɔbɔe le Kristo ta, ame si va anyigba dzi abe ame ene. Ɖiƒoƒo aɖeke menɔ eŋuti o, eye wòdza le eƒe gbɔgbɔ me. Mawudɔlawo kpɔe, eye wogblɔ mawunya tso eŋuti le dukɔwo dome. Amewo xɔ edzi se le afi sia afi si wòyi, eye wogaxɔe ɖe eƒe ŋutikɔkɔe me le dziƒo.
