1 S tedfast the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

2 i t behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3 n ot given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

4 h is own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity,

He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

5 ( and if any one his own house to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?)

(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

6 n ot a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;

and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

7 a nd it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.

And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 M inistrants -- in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,

Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,

9 h aving the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,

but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

10 a nd let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

11 W omen -- in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.

Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.

12 M inistrants -- let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,

Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

13 f or those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that in Christ Jesus.

For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

14 T hese things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon,

I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;

15 a nd if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God -- a pillar and foundation of the truth,

but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

16 a nd, confessedly, great is the secret of piety -- God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!

By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.