The Gabriel Version

4 To Titus, a true son in our nonexclusive faith. May compassion and peace be granted to you from Yehovah our Father, and from our Master Yeshua the Messiah, our Life Giver.

5 I left you behind in Crete so that you could straighten out the things that still require attention, and establish elders in every city as I directed you. 6 They must have good reputations, be married to only one wife, and have believing children who dont appear to be neglected or disobedient. 7 As a custodian of Yehovah, a manager should be above reproach, not always demanding his own way, or prone to anger, or a wino, or violent, or greedy for wealth. 8 He should be hospitable to strangers, good natured, pure, equitable, kind, self-controlled, 9 and faithfully upholding trustworthy doctrine, so that he’ll be able to encourage others by his wholesome teachings, and to overcome the arguments of adversaries.

10 There are many rebellious people, especially those of the circumcision, who are uttering nonsense and deceiving people. 11 You must shut their mouths, because they corrupt whole families, teaching things they shouldnt, just for the sake of making money. 12 One of them, one of their prophets, said, “The Cretans are always liars, dangerous animals, and idle gluttons”. 13 This is an accurate quotation. So denounce them sternly, so that they’ll be sound in the faith, 14 and dont pay attention to Jewish fictions, or to the platitudes imposed by people who hate the truth. 15 To the pure, everything is pure, but to the polluted and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are contaminated. 16 They claim to know Yehovah, but by their works they disown Him, they are detestable and disobedient. As for good works, they are counterfeits.

3 Likewise admonish the older women to show their reverence to Yehovah by their behavior. They must not be slanderers or winos, but be teachers of good things, 4 encouraging the younger women to be modest and to love their husbands and their children, 5 being chaste and devout and taking good care of their households and being submissive to their husbands so that no one blasphemes the Words of Aloha.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be sound minded. 7 Above all, live exemplary lives in regard to every kind of good works. Your doctrine should be pure, honorable and sincere, 8 undeviating words that no one can refute, so that our opponents will be ashamed at having nothing evil to say against us.

9 Servants should always obey their despots [1] and strive to please them, not arguing with them, 10 or robbing them. Instead, they should show complete and perfect loyalty, so that they can embellish, with honor, the doctrine of Yehovah our Life Giver, in every way.

11 The saving compassion of Yehovah is revealed to all mankind, 12 and it teaches us to renounce wickedness and the cravings of this world, and to live in this world in sobriety, and righteousness, and in awe of Yehovah, 13 anticipating our blessed hope, and the epiphany [Gr. epiphaneia: return] of the splendor of the great Aloha, AND our Life Giver [2], Yeshua the Messiah, 14 who gave Himself for us, so that he could ransom us from our lawless condition and cleanse a new people [3] for Himself, zealous for doing good works.

15 Repeat these things in your assemblies, requiring them to be the norm, and no one should despise you.

3 We ourselves used to lack understanding and were disobedient and deceived, enslaved to various cravings, and subject to various lusts and envy. We were hateful ourselves and hated each other 4 until we were enlightened by the kindness and compassion of Yehovah our Life Giver— 5 not as a result of our own works of righteousness, but due to His mercy. He’ll give us Life by a regenerative washing and a complete renewal by the dedicated spirit, 6 that He pours out on us so abundantly, thru Yeshua the Messiah our Life Giver, 7 so that we can be declared righteous by His compassion and become heirs in anticipation of eternal Life. 8 This is a faithful saying and I would strongly advise you to accept these various points, so that those who have believed in Yehovah will diligently cultivate good works. These things are good and profitable for anyone.

9 But avoid moronic [moros] controversies over genealogies, debates and doctrinal arguments with religious teachers [1], because they are a useless waste of time. 10 After a first and second admonition, have nothing further to do with anyone who is a heretic, 11 because as you know, a person like that is twisted, having wandered from the path of righteousness, and they condemn themselves.

12 After I have sent Artemas or Tychicus to you, be sure to join me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they’ll have everything they need. 14 Our people should also learn to do good works during times of emergency, so that they wont be unproductive.

15 Everyone with me sends their greetings. Greet the faithful who love us. May His compassion be with you all. Aw-mane’.