1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of Gods elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness--
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
3 and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,
4 To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
7 Since an overseer is entrusted with Gods work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
12 Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons."
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.
15 Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.