UFilimoni 1

1 UPawuli isibotshwa sikaKristu Jesu loTimothi umzalwane, kuFilimoni othandekayo lesisebenzi kanye lathi,

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

2 lakuApifiya othandekayo, lakuArkipho owebutho kanye lathi, lakubandla elisendlini yakho:

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

3 Umusa kawube kini lokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu leNkosini uJesu Kristu.

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

4 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu wami, ngikuphatha ngezikhathi zonke emikhulekweni yami,

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

5 ngisizwa ngothando lwakho langokholo olalo eNkosini uJesu lakubo bonke abangcwele,

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

6 ukuze ukuhlanganyela kokholo lwakho kube lamandla elwazini lwento yonke enhle ekini kuKristu Jesu.

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 Ngoba silentokozo enkulu lenduduzo ethandweni lwakho, ngoba imibilini yabangcwele yavuselelwa ngawe, mzalwane.

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 Ngalokho, lanxa ngilesibindi esikhulu kuKristu sokuthi ngikulaye into efaneleyo,

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

9 kanti ngenxa yothando kungcono ukuthi ngincenge, nginjengonje, uPawuli omdala, esengiyisibotshwa futhi sikaJesu Kristu.

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 Ngiyakuncenga ngomntanami, engimzeleyo kuzibopho zami, uOnesimo,

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

11 okade engelasizo kuwe, kodwa khathesi-ke ulosizo kuwe lakimi,

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

12 engimbuyisela kuwe; kodwa wena, memukele, okuyikuthi imibilini yami;

So receive him, who is my very heart

13 ebengifisa mina ukumbamba abe lami, ukuze angisebenzele esikhundleni sakho kuzibopho zevangeli;

—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 kodwa kangithandanga ukwenza ulutho ngaphandle kwemvumo yakho, ukuze okuhle kwakho kungabi ngokokubanjwa ngamandla, kodwa njengokwesihle.

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

15 Ngoba mhlawumbe wehlukaniswa lawe okwesikhatshana ngenxa yalokhu, ukuze ubuye umemukele phakade; (aiōnios g166)

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

16 angabe esaba njengesigqili, kodwa ngaphezu kwesigqili, umzalwane othandekayo, ikakhulu kimi, kodwa kakhulu kangakanani kuwe konke enyameni leNkosini.

—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 Ngakho uba usithi ngingumhlanganyeli lawe, memukele njengami.

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

18 Kodwa uba ekone ngolutho kumbe elomlandu, lokho kubalele kimi;

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

19 mina Pawuli ngibhale ngesandla sami, mina ngizahlawula; ukuthi ngingatsho kuwe ukuthi lawe uqobo ulomlandu oseleyo kimi.

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 Yebo, mzalwane, sengathi ngingaba lentokozo ngawe eNkosini; uvuselele imibilini yami eNkosini.

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

21 Ngikubhalele ngithemba ukulalela kwakho, ngisazi ukuthi lawe uzakwenza okungaphezu kwalokho engikutshoyo.

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

22 Futhi ngesikhathi esifananayo ungilungisele lami indawo yokuhlala; ngoba ngiyathemba ukuthi ngemikhuleko yenu ngizanikwa kini.

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 Uyakubingelela uEpafra oyisibotshwa kanye lami kuKristu Jesu,

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

24 uMarko, uAristako, uDema, uLuka, izisebenzi kanye lami.

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

25 Umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu kawube lomoya wenu. Ameni.

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