Leaders in the Church
1 This is a true saying: If a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work. 2 A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife, be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach; 3 he must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money; 4 he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect. 5 For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God? 6 He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was. 7 He should be a man who is respected by the people outside the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the Devil's trap.
Helpers in the Church
8 Church helpers must also have a good character and be sincere; they must not drink too much wine or be greedy for money; 9 they should hold to the revealed truth of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They should be tested first, and then, if they pass the test, they are to serve. 11 Their wives also must be of good character and must not gossip; they must be sober and honest in everything. 12 A church helper must have only one wife, and be able to manage his children and family well. 13 Those helpers who do their work well win for themselves a good standing and are able to speak boldly about their faith in Christ Jesus.
The Great Secret
14 As I write this letter to you, I hope to come and see you soon. 15 But if I delay, this letter will let you know how we should conduct ourselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion:
He appeared in human form,
was shown to be right by the Spirit,
and was seen by angels.
He was preached among the nations,
was believed in throughout the world,
and was taken up to heaven.
Ovanane mombongo
1 Omambo nga ouatjiri: Tji pe nomundu ngu ma zeri okurira omunane wombongo, eye ma zeri otjiungura otjiwatjiwa. 2 Omunane wombongo ma sokukara nokuhinatjipo; ma sokurira omurumendu womukazendu umwe, nomutima omuwa, nomuritjaere koviṋa nomuritjinde wanawa; eye ma sokusekirisa ovayenda moye; ma sokuyenena okuhonga ovandu; 3 eye ke nokusokurira omusuvere womanuwa poo omunazondjito zakotjomasa, nungwari ma sokurira ongozu nomunahange, nu ke nokusokunanukira ovimariva; 4 eye ma sokurira omuṱakamise wonganda ye nawa; ma sokukurisa ovanatje ve kutja ve kare nonḓuviro ku ye nondengero aihe. 5 Orondu omundu tje hi nokuyenena okuṱakamisa onganda ye omuini, ma sora vi okurisa ombongo ya Ndjambi? 6 Eye ma sokurira omundu ngwe kura mongamburiro kokutja e he risurisa mokuritongamisa kutja Satan e he mu wisire mombanguriro ya Ndjambi. 7 Nu wina eye ma sokurira omurumendu ngu ma pewa ondengero i ovandu mbe ri pendje yombongo, kokutja eye a ha yamburuka na ha wire mongwehe ya Satan.
Ovavatere mombongo
8 Momuano tjingewo, ovavatere wombongo wina mave sokukara notjikaro otjiwa, nu ngave rire ovandu mbe ha hungire pevari; owo kave sokunwa omavinu omengi; nu kave sokunanukira ovimariva. 9 Owo ve sokuṱakamisa nomeritjiviro womomutima omawa imbwi ouatjiri wongamburiro mbwa vandururwa. 10 Owo rutenga ve sokurorwa, nokuzambo tji pe hi nomundu ngu meve kuramene momurungu, otji mave yenene okukarera ombongo. 11 Novakazendu vawo wina ngave kare nomeritjindiro omawa, nu ave ha yamburura ovandu varwe; ngave kare nomitima omiwa nu ve rire ovaṱakame moviṋa avihe. 12 Omuvatere wombongo nga rire omurumendu womukazendu umwe uriri, nu nga rise ovanatje ve nawa nokuṱakamisa onganda ye nawa wina. 13 Ovavatere mba mbu mave ungura oviungura vyawo nawa mave munu ondengero mombongo, nu mave yenene okuhungira noupandi indji ongamburiro yawo mu Kristus Jesus.
Omaundikiro omanene
14 Tji me tjanga orutuu ndwi nai, ami me tjangovasi me yokukumuna tjimanga. 15 Nungwari tjinangara mba wombo okuya, orutuu ndwi maru ku tjivisa kutja eṱe ngatu ritjinde vi monganda ya Ndjambi. Onganda ndji oyo ombongo ya Ndjambi omunamuinyo; oyo ongunḓe nomazikameno wouatjiri. 16 Kape nomundu ngu ma sora okupataṋa kutja omaundikiro wongamburiro yetu owo, tjiri, omanene:
Jesus Kristus weya mouye momuhapo womundu,
wa varwa otja omusemba i Ombepo,
na munika kovaengeri;
eye wa zuvarisiwa mokati kaimba mbe he ri Ovajuda,
novandu mouparanga wouye auhe ave kambura mu ye,
neye a twarewa keyuru.
