[1] Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to
the faith of God`s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according
to godliness, [2] in hope of eternal life, which God, who can`t lie,
promised before eternal times; [3] but in his own time revealed his word in
the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God,
our Savior; [4] to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace,
mercy, and peace from God, the Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ, our
Savior. [5] I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in
order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I
directed you; [6] if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having
children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. [7]
For the overseer must be blameless, as God`s steward; not self-pleasing,
not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for
dishonest gain; [8] but given to hospitality, as a lover of good,
sober-minded, fair, holy, self-controlled; [9] holding to the faithful word
which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the
sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him. [10] For there are
also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the
circumcision, [11] whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole
houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain`s sake.
[12] One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars,
evil beasts, and idle gluttons." [13] This testimony is true. For this
cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, [14] not
paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away
from the truth. [15] 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] They profess that they know God, but by their
works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good
work.