1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
Ni neno la kuaminiwa; mtu akitaka kazi ya askofu, atamani kazi njema.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Basi imempasa askofu awe mtu asiyelaumika, mume wa mke mmoja, mwenye kiasi na busara, mtu wa utaratibu, mkaribishaji, ajuaye kufundisha;
3 not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
si mtu wa kuzoelea ulevi, si mpiga watu; bali awe mpole; si mtu wa kujadiliana, wala asiwe mwenye kupenda fedha;
4 one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
mwenye kuisimamia nyumba yake vema, ajuaye kutiisha watoto katika ustahivu;
5 (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
(yaani, mtu asiyejua kuisimamia nyumba yake mwenyewe, atalitunzaje Kanisa la Mungu?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Wala asiwe mtu aliyeongoka karibu, asije akajivuna akaanguka katika hukumu ya Ibilisi.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Tena imempasa kushuhudiwa mema na watu walio nje; ili asianguke katika lawama na mtego wa Ibilisi.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Vivyo hivyo mashemasi na wawe wastahivu; si wenye kauli mbili, si watu wa kutumia mvinyo sana, si watu wanaotamani fedha ya aibu.
9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
wakiishika siri ya imani katika dhamiri safi.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Hawa pia na wajaribiwe kwanza; baadaye waitende kazi ya shemasi, wakiisha kuonekana kuwa hawana hatia.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Vivyo hivyo wake zao na wawe wastahivu; si wasingiziaji; watu wa kiasi, waaminifu katika mambo yote.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Mashemasi na wawe waume wa mke mmoja, wakiwasimamia watoto wao vizuri, na nyumba zao.
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.
Kwa maana watendao vema kazi ya shemasi hujipatia daraja nzuri, na ujasiri mwingi katika imani iliyo katika Kristo Yesu.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
Nakuandikia hayo nikitaraji kuja kwako hivi karibu.
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.
Lakini nikikawia, upate kujua jinsi iwapasavyo watu kuenenda katika nyumba ya Mungu, iliyo kanisa la Mungu aliye hai, nguzo na msingi wa kweli.
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.
Na bila shaka siri ya utauwa ni kuu. Mungu alidhihirishwa katika mwili, Akajulika kuwa na haki katika roho, Akaonekana na malaika, Akahubiriwa katika mataifa, Akaaminiwa katika ulimwengu, Akachukuliwa juu katika utukufu.
