1 Timothy 4

¹But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

¹聖靈明說，在後來的時候，必有人離棄真道，聽從那引誘人的邪靈和鬼魔的道理。

²by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

²這是因為說謊之人的假冒；這等人的良心如同被熱鐵烙慣了一般。

³[men] who forbid marriage [and advocate] abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

³他們禁止嫁娶，又禁戒食物（或作：又叫人戒葷），就是神所造、叫那信而明白真道的人感謝著領受的。

⁴For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;

⁴凡神所造的物都是好的，若感謝著領受，就沒有一樣可棄的，

⁵for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

⁵都因神的道和人的祈求成為聖潔了。

⁶In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, [constantly] nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

⁶你若將這些事提醒弟兄們，便是基督耶穌的好執事，在真道的話語和你向來所服從的善道上得了教育。

⁷But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;

⁷只是要棄絕那世俗的言語和老婦荒渺的話，在敬虔上操練自己。

⁸for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and [also] for the [life] to come.

⁸操練身體，益處還少；惟獨敬虔，凡事都有益處，因有今生和來生的應許。

⁹It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.

⁹這話是可信的，是十分可佩服的。

¹⁰For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

¹⁰我們勞苦努力，正是為此，因我們的指望在乎永生的神；他是萬人的救主，更是信徒的救主。

¹¹Prescribe and teach these things.

¹¹這些事，你要吩咐人，也要教導人。

¹²Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but [rather] in speech, conduct, love, faith [and] purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

¹²不可叫人小看你年輕，總要在言語、行為、愛心、信心、清潔上，都作信徒的榜樣。

¹³Until I come, give attention to the [public] reading [of Scripture], to exhortation and teaching.

¹³你要以宣讀、勸勉、教導為念，直等到我來。

¹⁴Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

¹⁴你不要輕忽所得的恩賜，就是從前藉著預言、在眾長老按手的時候賜給你的。

¹⁵Take pains with these things; be [absorbed] in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

¹⁵這些事你要殷勤去做，並要在此專心，使眾人看出你的長進來。

¹⁶Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

¹⁶你要謹慎自己和自己的教訓，要在這些事上恆心；因為這樣行，又能救自己，又能救聽你的人。