1 Timotheo 3

1 Obhwaiki bhunu ni bhwo kwiikanyibhwa: Labha omunu kenda kubha Mutangasha, kenda milimu je kisi.

How true is that saying! When a man aspires to be a Presiding-Officer in the Church, he is ambitious for a noble task.

2 Kulwejo omutangasha jimwiile asige okulomwa kubhibhi. Jimwiile abhe mulume wo mugasi umwi. Jimwiile abhe wo kwibhalila omwengeso, abhe wo bhwitondo, mufula. Jiile abhe no bhutulo bhwo kwiigisha.

The Presiding-Officer should be a man of blameless character; a faithful husband; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skilful teacher,

3 Asige okunywa obhwalwa, asige kulwana, nawe abhe mwololo, abhe wo mulembe. Jimwiile asige kubha wo kwenda jimpilya.

not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money;

4 Jimwiile emelegululu abhanu bha munyumba yaye omwene, na abhana bhaye bheile bhamungwe mu chibhalo chone.

he should be a man who rules his own household well, and whose children are kept under control and are well-behaved.

5 Kulwo kubha omunu akabha atakumenya okwimelegululu abhanu bha mu nyumba yaye omwene, katula kutiki okwimelegululu likanisa lya Nyamuanga?

If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how can he take charge of the Church of God?

6 Asige kubha mwikilisha muyaya, koleleki asiga kwikuya no kugwa mu ndamu lwo mujabhi uliya.

The Presiding-Officer should not be a recent convert, that he may not be blinded by pride and fall under the same condemnation as the Devil.

7 Jiile abhe na jintungwa je kisi ku bhona bha anja, kuleleki ataja kugwa mu nswalo na mu njilo jo mujabhi.

He should also be well spoken of by outsiders, that he may not incur censure and so fall into the snares of the Devil.

8 Abhafurubhendi, kutyo kutyo jibheile kubha bhanu bhe chibhalo, bhasiga kubha bha nyaika ebhili. Bhasige okunywa obhwalwa kwo kusagilila amwi okubha na inamba.

So, too, Assistant-Officers should be serious and straightforward men, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making,

9 Bhatule okubhika kwo mwoyo omwelu echimali che likilisha chinu chafundukuywe.

but men who hold the deep truths of the Faith and have a clear conscience.

10 Bhabhe bhekelisibhwa kwamba, nio bhatule okufulubhenda kulwo kubha bhatana chikujulo.

They should be tested first, and only appointed to their Office if no objection is raised against them.

11 Abhagasi one bhabhe bhe chibhalo. Bhasige kubha bhabheelesha. Bhabhe no kwibhalila na bhalengelesi mu misango jone.

It should be the same with the women. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects.

12 Abhafulubhendi jibheile bhabhe bhalume bho mugasi umwi umwi. Jibheile bhemelegululu kisi abhana bhebhwe na bha mu nyumba yebhwe.

Assistant-Officers should be faithful husbands, and men who rule their children and their households well.

13 Kulwo kubha bhanu abhatangasha kisi abhabhona obhwima bhwekisi no bhubhasi bhunene mu likilisha linu lili mu Kristo Yesu.

Those who have filled that post with honour gain for themselves an honourable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus.

14 Enandika emisango jinu kwawe, na eniikanya okuja kwawe woli wolyanu.

I am writing this to you, though I hope that I shall come to see you before long;

15 Mbe nawe labha nikakola, enandika koleleki ubhone okumenya akalibhatiye ka mu nyumba ya Nyamuanga, inu ili likanisa lya Nyamuanga unu ali muanga, ng'ingi no musakisi we chimali.

but in case I should be delayed, I want you to know what your conduct ought to be in the Household of God, which is the Church of the Living God — the pillar and stay of the Truth.

16 Nolwo kutaliwo kubhambala ati echimali cho Bhuungu chinu chasuluywe ni chikulu: “Abhonekene mu mubhili, nelesibhwa no Mwoyo Omwelu, nabhonekana na malaika, nalasibhwa agati ya maanga, nekilisibhwa ne chalo, nagegwa ingulu mwi kusho.”

Yes, and confessedly wonderful are the deep truths of our religion; for — ‘He was revealed in our nature, Pronounced righteous in spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Taken up into glory.’