1 Paulus, Jumala sulane, Jeesuse Kristuse Apostel Jumala valitute usu ja tõetunnetuse järgi, mis vastab jumalakartusele,

2 Apostel igavese elu lootuses, mille Jumal, Kes ei valeta, on tõotanud enne igavesi aegu -

3 omal ajal aga tegi Tema Oma sõna avalikuks jutlustamises, mis minu kätte on usaldatud Jumala, meie Õnnistegija käsul -

4 Tiitusele, tõelisele pojale meie ühise usu poolest: armu ja rahu Jumalalt Isalt ja Issandalt Kristuselt Jeesuselt, meie Õnnistegijalt!

5 Selle tarvis ma jätsin sind Kreetasse, et sa korraldaksid, mis veel jäi korraldamata, ja seaksid vanemaid igasse linna, nagu ma sind käskisin,

6 kui kuskil leidub laitmatu isik, ühe naise mees, kellel on usklikud lapsed, nõnda et neile ei saa ette heita kõlvatut elu ega kangekaelsust.

7 Sest Koguduse ülevaataja peab olema kui Jumala majapidaja, laitmatu, mitte isemeelne, mitte äkiline, mitte joodik, mitte riiakas, mitte liigkasupüüdja,

8 vaid külalislahke, headuse armastaja, mõistlik, õige, püha, kasin;

9 ta pidagu kinni ustavast sõnast vastavalt õpetusele, et ta oleks võimeline niihästi manitsema terves õpetuses kui ka kummutama vasturääkijate väited.

10 Sest on olemas palju kangekaelseid, tühja jutu mehi ja eksitajaid, kõige enam ümberlõigatute seas,

11 kelle suu tuleb sulgeda, kes pööravad ära terved pered, õpetades sündmatuid asju häbematu kasu pärast.

12 Üks neist, nende oma prohvet, on öelnud: „Kreetalased on luiskajad, õelad loomad ja laisklejad vatsad!"

13 See tunnistus on tõsi. Sellepärast noomi neid valjusti, et nad saaksid terveks usus

14 ega paneks tähele juutide tühje jutte ja tõest eemalepöördunud inimeste käske!

15 Puhtaile on kõik puhas, aga rüvedaile ja uskmatuile pole miski puhas, vaid rüve on niihästi nende meel kui südametunnistus.

16 Nemad väidavad, et nad tunnevad Jumalat, aga tegudega nad salgavad; sest nad on jälgid ja sõnakuulmatud ja igaks heaks tööks kõlbmatud.

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in agreement with the faith of the saints of God and the full knowledge of what is true in harmony with religion,

2 In the hope of eternal life, which was made certain before eternal time, by the word of God who is ever true;

3 Who, in his time, made clear his word in the good news, of which, by the order of God our Saviour, I became a preacher;

4 To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

5 I did not take you with me when I went away from Crete, so that you might do what was necessary to put things in order there, placing men in authority over the churches in every town, as I said to you;

6 Men having a good record, husbands of one wife, whose children are of the faith, children of whom it may not be said that they are given to loose living or are uncontrolled.

7 For it is necessary for a Bishop to be a man of virtue, as God's servant; not pushing himself forward, not quickly moved to wrath or blows, not desiring profit for himself;

8 But opening his house freely to guests; a lover of what is good, serious-minded, upright, holy, self-controlled;

9 Keeping to the true word of the teaching, so that he may be able to give comfort by right teaching and overcome the arguments of the doubters.

10 For there are men who are not ruled by law; foolish talkers, false teachers, specially those of the circumcision,

11 By whom some families have been completely overturned; who take money for teaching things which are not right; these will have to be stopped.

12 One of their prophets has said, The men of Crete are ever false, evil beasts, lovers of food, hating work.

13 This witness is true. So say sharp words to them so that they may come to the right faith,

14 Giving no attention to the fictions of the Jews and the rules of men who have no true knowledge.

15 To the clean in heart all things are clean: but to those who are unclean and without faith nothing is clean; they become unclean in mind and in thought.

16 They say that they have knowledge of God, while by their acts they are turning their backs on him; they are hated by all, hard-hearted, and judged to be without value for any good work.