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,

To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,

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.

to my sister Apphia, to my fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church which meets at Philemon’s house. From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy.

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

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,

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

because I am hearing of your love and of the faith which you hold, not only toward the Lord Jesus Christ, but toward 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.

And I pray that your participation may become effectual, as you come to acknowledge every good thing which is in you to Christ.

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.

For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.

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

And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,

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.

yet for love’s sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!

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

I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.

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

Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.

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

I am sending him back to you, he himself, that 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 could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, in my bonds 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 without your consent I was unwilling to do anything, so that your kindness to me might be of your own free will, and not of compulsion.

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 for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back 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, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both as a man and a fellow Christian.

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

If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would 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.

And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that 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 this in my own handwriting, "I will repay you." But I will not mention that you owe me, over and over, your very soul.

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

Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!

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

Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedience, I have written you, knowing full well that you will do by me what I am asking.

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.

Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.

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

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;

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

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

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

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.