< Philemon 1 >

1 Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,
Pol, indji u tie ndu Kristi Yesu, ba-mba vayi ma Timoti hi ni Filimon, ikpan mbu ni ikpan tie ndu mbu,
2 and to the beloved Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg) house:
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.
3 Grace to you (pl) and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.
Dun Aliheri he ni yi ni sie rji ni Irji, Itti mbu ni Bachi Yesu Kristi.
4 I always thank my God as I make mention of you (sg) in my prayers,
Mi zie bre Irji mu. Mi yo yi ni mi bre mu chachu.
5 hearing of your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for all the saints,
Mi woh ye nitu son mba yo'shi ni Irji wa bi he niwu nimi Bachi Yesu mba ni wawu bi hu Irji.
6 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;
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.
7 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.
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.
8 Now then, though I have all boldness in Christ to order you (sg) to do what is right,
Nika, mi he ni gbengblen suron nimi Kristi wa mi ndi dun wu tie kpe wa-abi dun tie,
9 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.
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.
10 I appeal to you on behalf of the son whom I begot while in my chains, Onesimus, whom I am sending back
Mi miye u, ivre mu Onisimu, ime mi tima ni brusuna.
11 —formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.
Ana kpa tie meme niwu, ama zizan ahi vren ndindima niwu u ni me ngame.
12 So receive him, who is my very heart
Mi tru'u dun kma ye niwu, a vren u suron mu.
13 —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,
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.
14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your contribution might be voluntary, not as an imposition.
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.
15 Perhaps this is why he was removed for a while, so that you would have him forever (aiōnios g166)
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)
16 —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.
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.
17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as if it were me.
U toh bi kpa me nji na ikpan tie ndu niyi, kpa-u ngame na wa bi kpa me.
18 If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.
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.
19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand, “I will repay” (rather than say to you that you actually owe me your very self!).
Ime Pol, mi nha ni'wwo mu: mi hahn yi. Ana ndi bi kma tie ihla ni'wwo mu na.
20 Yes brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
Eih, vayi, tie nimu wayi nimi Bachi; kpa suron mu ku-si nimi Kristi.
21 Being confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you (sg) will do even more than I say.
Gbengble suron nitu wo-ttre mbi, misi nha ye niyi. Mi toh ndi bi tie bran zan ikpe wa mi meyi me.
22 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).
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.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, greets you (sg),
Epafras, ikpan mu u tie ndu nimi Kristi Yesu, a-ndi dun mi chi yi.
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
U Markus, Aristachus, Demas, u mba Luka, ba kpukpan tie ndu mu.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus be with your (pl) spirit. Amen.
Dun Liheri u Bachi Mbu Yesu Kristi hu ni suron mbi. Amin

< Philemon 1 >