Filimo 1

1 Pol, indji u tie ndu Kristi Yesu, ba-mba vayi ma Timoti hi ni Filimon, ikpan mbu ni ikpan tie ndu mbu,

Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,

2 nda hi ni Afia vayi mbu vrenwa, nda hi ni Akipus ikpan u taku mbu, nda hi ni Chochi wa bi rii ni koh mbi.

and to the beloved Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg) house:

3 Dun Aliheri he ni yi ni sie rji ni Irji, Itti mbu ni Bachi Yesu Kristi.

Grace to you (pl) and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

4 Mi zie bre Irji mu. Mi yo yi ni mi bre mu chachu.

I always thank my God as I make mention of you (sg) in my prayers,

5 Mi woh ye nitu son mba yo'shi ni Irji wa bi he niwu nimi Bachi Yesu mba ni wawu bi hu Irji.

hearing of your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for all the saints,

6 Mi bre nitu zohn tu-mbi u yo'shi nitu Irji dun vu-kri nitu toh ba kpie bi ndindima wa ahe ni mbu nimi Kristi.

so that the sharing of your (sg) faith may become powerful through a full understanding of every good thing that is among you (pl) who are in Christ Jesus;

7 U mi ngyri banbran ni vu-suron nitu son kpa mbi, nitu suron bi wa ba hu Irji ba he ngelelen me ni tie me, vayi.

yes, we have much thanksgiving and encouragement because of your (sg) love, in that the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 Nika, mi he ni gbengblen suron nimi Kristi wa mi ndi dun wu tie kpe wa-abi dun tie,

Now then, though I have all boldness in Christ to order you (sg) to do what is right,

9 u mi k'ma bre-wu nitu son u Irji - Ime, Pol, chiche ndji, u zizan mi ndji na ba tro me ni Kristi Yesu.

I—being none other than Paul the old man and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ—would rather appeal to you, for love's sake.

10 Mi miye u, ivre mu Onisimu, ime mi tima ni brusuna.

I appeal to you on behalf of the son whom I begot while in my chains, Onesimus, whom I am sending back

11 Ana kpa tie meme niwu, ama zizan ahi vren ndindima niwu u ni me ngame.

—formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.

12 Mi tru'u dun kma ye niwu, a vren u suron mu.

So receive him, who is my very heart

13 Mi na son ndi mini kawu zi ni me, don dun tie nimu ndu u'mbi, ka mi ri he ni loh nitu itre Irji.

—I would have liked to keep him with me, so that he might minister to me in your place, while I am in chains for the Gospel,

14 Mina son ndi mi tie-kpe hama ni kpa nyime me na. Mina son ndi dun tie ume wa ndi a bi'a dun he nitu gbigbi na u ka he ndi wu tie rji nimi suron ndindima.

but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your contribution might be voluntary, not as an imposition.

15 U a rjuto ahi nitu wayi mba ba chu-u rju rji niwu ni vi tsaa ntoh, nitu ani la kma ye nda he niwu ni wawu ntoh. (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps this is why he was removed for a while, so that you would have him forever (aiōnios g166)

16 Ana la tie grahn ngana, ani tie bi zan tie u grahn, immri vayi bi son suron mu. Ahi ndji ndindima nda ri nimi suron mu zan, u gra ma niyi ngame, nimi ikpa yi ni nimi Bachi.

—no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, very much to me but even more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord.

17 U toh bi kpa me nji na ikpan tie ndu niyi, kpa-u ngame na wa bi kpa me.

So if you consider me a partner, receive him as if it were me.

18 To a tie-kpe wa isuron mbi na banwu na u nda kpa ihla ni yi, ko ani hi nge a kpa, bla yo ni tu mu.

If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.

19 Ime Pol, mi nha ni'wwo mu: mi hahn yi. Ana ndi bi kma tie ihla ni'wwo mu na.

I, Paul, am writing with my own hand, “I will repay” (rather than say to you that you actually owe me your very self!).

20 Eih, vayi, tie nimu wayi nimi Bachi; kpa suron mu ku-si nimi Kristi.

Yes brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Gbengble suron nitu wo-ttre mbi, misi nha ye niyi. Mi toh ndi bi tie bran zan ikpe wa mi meyi me.

Being confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you (sg) will do even more than I say.

22 Nimi ntoh ki, bika mlah mitra u bitsri tie ni mi, don mi si yo'shi ndi nitu ibre mbi, ba nji me kma ye ni yi.

But meanwhile, do prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your (pl) prayers I will be graciously bestowed on you (pl).

23 Epafras, ikpan mu u tie ndu nimi Kristi Yesu, a-ndi dun mi chi yi.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, greets you (sg),

24 U Markus, Aristachus, Demas, u mba Luka, ba kpukpan tie ndu mu.

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 Dun Liheri u Bachi Mbu Yesu Kristi hu ni suron mbi. Amin

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with your (pl) spirit. Amen.