I Timothy 3

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Mahatoky izao teny izao: Raha misy olona maniry ny asan'ny mpitandrina, dia maniry asa tsara izy.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Koa ny mpitandrina dia tsy maintsy ho tsy manan-tsiny, manam-bady tokana, mahonon-tena, hendry, tia filaminana, mampiantrano vahiny, mahay mampianatra,

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

tsy mpimamo lian'ady, tsy mpikapoka, fa mandefitra, tsy mpila ady, tsy mpitia vola,

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

manapaka tsara ny ankohonany, mampanaiky ny zanany amin'ny fahamaotinana tsara

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

(fa raha misy olona tsy mahay mitondra ny ankohonany, hataony ahoana no fitandrina ny fiangonan'Andriamanitra?),

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

tsy izay zazavao amin'ny fivavahana, fandrao hieboebo foana izy ka ho latsaka amin'ny fahamelohan'ny devoly.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Ary tsy maintsy ho tsara laza koa amin'izay eny ivelany izy, fandrao ho lavo amin'ny fananan-tsiny sy ny fandriky ny devoly.

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Ny diakona koa toy izany ihany, ho maotona, tsy miroa teny, tsy tia divay be, tsy tia harena maloto,

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

mitandrina tsara ny zava-miafina ny amin'ny finoana amin'ny fieritreretana madio.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Ary aoka hizahan-toetra ireo aloha, dia vao hanao ny asan'ny diakona izy, raha tsy manan-tsiny.

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Ny vehivavy koa ho toy izany ihany: maotona, tsy mpanendrikendrika, mahonon-tena, mahatoky amin'ny zavatra rehetra.

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Aoka ny diakona samy hanam-bady tokana sady hanapaka tsara ny zanany sy ny ankohonany.

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.

Fa izay efa mahavatra tsara ny asan'ny diakona dia mahazo toerana tsara ho an'ny tenany sy fahasahiana be amin'ny finoana izay ao amin'i Kristy Jesosy.

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

Izany zavatra izany dia soratako aminao, na dia manantena hankatỳ aminao faingana aza aho;

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.

fa raha tratra ela aho, dia ny hahafantaranao izay fitondran-tena mety hatao ao an-tranon'Andriamanitra, dia ny fiangonan'Andriamanitra velona, sady andry sy fiorenan'ny fahamarinana.

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.

Ary iaraha-manaiky mihitsy fa lehibe ny zava-miafina ny amin'ny toe-panahy araka an'Andriamanitra, dia Ilay naseho teo amin'ny nofo, nohamarinina tao amin'ny Fanahy; hitan'ny anjely, notorina tany amin'ny jentilisa, ninoana teny amin'izao tontolo izao, nakarina tamin'ny voninahitra.