1 P aul, bondman of God, and apostle of Jesus Christ according to faith of God's elect, and knowledge of truth which according to piety;

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

2 i n hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the ages of time,

in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,

3 b ut has manifested in its own due season his word, in proclamation with which I have been entrusted, according to commandment of our Saviour God;

but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,

4 t o Titus, my own child according to faith common: Grace and peace from God Father, and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Qualifications of Elders

5 F or this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou mightest go on to set right what remained, and establish elders in each city, as I had ordered thee:

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

6 i f any one be free from all charge, husband of one wife, having believing children not accused of excess or unruly.

namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

7 F or the overseer must be free from all charge as God's steward; not headstrong, not passionate, not disorderly through wine, not a striker, not seeking gain by base means;

For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

8 b ut hospitable, a lover of goodness, discreet, just, pious, temperate,

but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

9 c linging to the faithful word according to the doctrine taught, that he may be able both to encourage with sound teaching and refute gainsayers.

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

10 F or there are many and disorderly vain speakers and deceivers of people's minds, specially those of circumcision,

For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

11 w ho must have their mouths stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which ought not for the sake of base gain.

who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

12 O ne of themselves, a prophet of their own, has said, Cretans are always liars, evil wild beasts, lazy gluttons.

One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “ Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

13 T his testimony is true; for which cause rebuke them severely, that they may be sound in the faith,

This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

14 n ot turning minds to Jewish fables and commandments of men turning away from the truth.

not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15 A ll things pure to the pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

16 T hey profess to know God, but in works deny, being abominable, and disobedient, and found worthless as to every good work.

They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.