< Philemon 1 >
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
Paulo, mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu, na ndugu Timotheo kwa Filemoni, mpendwa rafiki yetu na mtenda kazi pamoja nasi,
2 and to Apphia our sister, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
na kwa Afia dada yetu, na kwa Arkipas askari mwenzetu, na kwa kanisa lile linalokutana nyumbani kwako.
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Neema iwe kwenu na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana Yesu Kristo.
4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
Wakati wote namshukuru Mungu. Ninakutaja katika maombi yangu.
5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
Nimesikia upendo na imani uliyonayo katika Bwana Yesu na kwa ajili ya waumini wote.
6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you in Christ.
Ninaomba kwamba ushirika wa imani yenu iwe na ufanisi katika ujuzi wa kila jambo jema lililoko kati yetu katika Kristo.
7 For I have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Kwa kuwa nimekuwa na furaha na faraja kwa sababu ya upendo wako, kwa sababu mioyo ya waumini imekuwa ikitulizwa nawe, ndugu.
8 Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
Kwa hiyo, ingawa nina ujasiri wote katika Kristo kukuamuru wewe kufanya kile unachoweza kufanya,
9 yet on the basis of love I rather appeal, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
lakini kwa sababu ya upendo, badala yake nakusihi - mimi, Paulo niliye mzee, na sasa ni mfungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu.
10 I appeal to you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
Ninakusihi kuhusu mwanangu Onesmo, niliyemzaa katika vifungo vyangu.
11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
Kwa kuwa mwanzoni hakukufaa, lakini sasa anakufaa wewe na mimi.
12 I am sending back to you, him who is my very heart,
Nimemtuma- yeye ambaye ni wa moyo wangu hasa - kurudi kwako.
13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
Nataraji angeendelea kubaki pamoja nami, ili anitumikie badala yako, wakati niwako kifungoni kwa ajili ya injili.
14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
Lakini sikutaka kufanya jambo lolote bila ruhusa yako. Nilifanya hivi ili kwamba jambo lolote zuri lisifanyike kwa sababu nilikulazimisha, bali kwa sababu ulipenda mwenyewe kulitenda.
15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, (aiōnios )
Labda ni sababu alitengwa nawe kwa muda, ilikuwa hivyo ili uwe pamoja naye milele. (aiōnios )
16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Ili kwamba asiwe tena mtumwa, bali bora zaidi ya mtumwa, kama ndugu mpendwa, hasa kwangu, na zaidi sana kwako, katika mwili na katika Bwana.
17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
Na hivyo kama wanichukulia mimi mshirika, mpokee kama ambavyo ungenipokea mimi.
18 But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.
Lakini kama amekukosea jambo lolote, au unamdai kitu chochote, kidai hicho kutoka kwangu.
19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
Mimi Paulo, ninaandika kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe: mimi nitakulipa. Sisemi kwako kwamba nakudai maisha yako hasa.
20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Naam ndugu, acha nipate furaha ya Bwana toka kwako: uburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
Nikiwa na imani kuhusu utii wako, nakuandikia nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya vile ninavyokuomba.
22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
Wakati huo huo andaa chumba cha wageni kwa ajili yangu, kwa kuwa ninatumaini kupitia maombi yako nitakutembelea hivi karibuni.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
Epafra, mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu anakusalimu,
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
na kama afanyavyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema, Luka, watendakazi pamoja nami.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho yako. Amina.