Filemon 1

1 Agbalẽ sia tso nye, Paulo si le ga me ɖe Kristo Yesu ta kple mía nɔviŋutsu Timoteo gbɔ, Na Filemon, mía xɔlɔ̃ lɔlɔ̃tɔ kple hadɔwɔla

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,

2 kple Apfia, mía nɔvinyɔnu, na Arkipo, mía nɔvi, Kristo ƒe asrafo kple hame si kpea ta le aƒewò me.

and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house.

3 Amenuveve kple ŋutifafa si tso Mawu mía Fofo kple Aƒetɔ Yesu Kristo gbɔ la woana mi.

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

4 Filemon lɔlɔ̃a, medaa akpe na Mawu ɣe sia ɣi si mele gbe dom ɖa ɖe tawò,

I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,

5 elabena mese nu tso wò lɔlɔ̃ kple xɔse si le Aƒetɔ Yesu me kple ame kɔkɔeawo katã ŋu.

(for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints)

6 Nye gbedodoɖae nye be nàtsɔ dzo ɖe wò xɔse la, mama ŋu, ale be nàse nu nyui ɖe sia ɖe si le mía si le Kristo me la gɔme blibo.

so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 Wò lɔlɔ̃ na dzidzɔ kple dzideƒo gã aɖem, elabena wò, nɔviŋutsu, tsɔ dzidzɔ de ame kɔkɔeawo ƒe dziwo me.

For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

8 Eya ta togbɔ be dzideƒo le asinye le Kristo me be mate ŋu azi dziwò be nàwɔ nu si dze be nàwɔ hã la,

Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,

9 medi boŋ be maɖe kuku na wò le lɔlɔ̃ ta. Eya ŋuti nye Paulo, amegãxoxo kple ame si va zu Kristo Yesu ƒe gatɔ

but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 mele kuku ɖem na wò ɖe vinye Onesimo ta, ame si trɔ zu vinye esi menɔ kɔsɔkɔsɔ me le afii.

I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.

11 Tsã la, ŋudɔwɔnu aɖeke menɔ eŋu na wò o, ke azɔ la, etrɔ zu ŋudɔwɔnu na nye kpli wò siaa.

In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.

12 Mele etrɔm ɖo ɖe wò, eye mele nye ŋutɔ nye dzi hã ɖom ɖe wò kplii.

So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.

13 Medi vevie be mana wòanɔ gbɔnye le afii, le esime mele gaxɔ me le nyanyui la gbɔgblɔ ta. Wò hã àto esia me ana kpekpeɖeŋum to edzi.

I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.

14 Ke nyemedi be mawɔ nenema ne mèlɔ̃ ɖe edzi o. Nyemedi be nànyo dɔ me nam to dzizizi me o, ke boŋ be wò ŋutɔ nàdi be yeave nunye.

But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.

15 Ɖewohĩ, anyo be nàbu nya sia ŋu ale: Onesimo si dzo le gbɔwò ɣeyiɣi kpui aɖe, ale be azɔ la, wòazu tɔwo tegbee. (aiōnios g166)

So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity, (aiōnios g166)

16 Onesimo maganye kluvi ɖeɖe ko azɔ o, ke boŋ azu nu si kɔ sãa wu, eye woanye nɔvi lɔlɔ̃a, vevietɔ nam. Agazu ame vevi na wò ŋutɔ hã azɔ, elabena maganye subɔla le ŋutilã me ko o, ke boŋ anye nɔviwò le Aƒetɔ la me hã.

no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

17 Ne menye xɔ̃wò le nyateƒe me la, ekema xɔ Onesimo kple dzaadoname si tututu natsɔ axɔm nenye nyee gbɔna gbɔwò.

Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.

18 Ne ewɔ nu vevi aɖe wò alo wòfi wò nane la, ekema kpɔ mɔ na teƒeɖoɖo tso gbɔnye.

But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.

19 Maɖo eteƒe na wò. Nye, Paulo, meɖo kpe nya sia dzi na wò to nu sia ŋɔŋlɔ kple nye asi na wò me. Ke nyemakɔ nu le fe si nènyi le asinye la dzi o! Nya lae nye be wò luʋɔ la ŋutɔe nye fe si nenyi le asinye!

I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me.

20 Ɛ̃, nɔvi lɔlɔ̃a, na wò nu sia wɔwɔ nam kple lɔlɔ̃ nanye viɖe nam le Aƒetɔ la me, ekema nye dzi agbɔ ɖe eme le Kristo me.

So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Meŋlɔ agbalẽ sia na wò, elabena meka ɖe edzi be àwɔ nam wu ale si mebia gɔ̃ hã!

I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say.

22 Meɖe kuku be nàdi amedzroxɔ aɖe da ɖi nam, elabena mele mɔ kpɔm be Mawu ase miaƒe gbedodoɖa, eye woana mava mia gbɔ kpuie.

But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.

23 Epafra, ame si le gaxɔ me kplim le gbeƒãɖeɖe Kristo Yesu ta la do gbe na mi.

Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,

24 Marko, Aristako, Dema kple Luka, nye hadɔwɔlawo hã do gbe na mi.

and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.

25 Míaƒe Aƒetɔ Yesu Kristo ƒe yayra nanɔ anyi kple miaƒe gbɔgbɔ la.

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