Filemoni 1
1 Paulo, mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu, pamoja na Timotheo ndugu yetu: Kwa Filemoni rafiki yetu mpendwa na mtendakazi mwenzetu,
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer;
2 kwa dada yetu mpendwa Afia, kwa Arkipo askari mwenzetu na kwa kanisa lile likutanalo nyumbani mwako:
And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house:
3 Neema iwe nanyi na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na Bwana Yesu Kristo.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Siku zote ninamshukuru Mungu ninapokukumbuka katika maombi yangu,
I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers.
5 kwa sababu ninasikia juu ya imani yako katika Bwana Yesu na upendo wako kwa watakatifu wote.
Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints:
6 Naomba utiwe nguvu katika kuishuhudia imani yako, ili upate kuwa na ufahamu mkamilifu juu ya kila kitu chema tulicho nacho ndani ya Kristo.
That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work, that is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 Upendo wako umenifurahisha mno na kunitia moyo, kwa sababu wewe ndugu, umeiburudisha mioyo ya watakatifu.
For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Hata hivyo, ingawa katika Kristo ningeweza kuwa na ujasiri na kukuagiza yale yakupasayo kutenda,
Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:
9 lakini ninakuomba kwa upendo, mimi Paulo, mzee na pia sasa nikiwa mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu,
For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.
10 nakuomba kwa ajili ya mwanangu Onesimo, aliyefanyika mwanangu nilipokuwa kwenye minyororo.
I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,
11 Mwanzoni alikuwa hakufai, lakini sasa anakufaa sana wewe na mimi pia.
Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,
12 Namtuma kwako, yeye aliye moyo wangu hasa.
Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.
13 Ningependa nikae naye ili ashike nafasi yako ya kunisaidia wakati huu nikiwa kifungoni kwa ajili ya Injili.
Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:
14 Lakini sikutaka kufanya lolote bila idhini yako, ili wema wowote uufanyao usiwe wa lazima, bali wa hiari.
But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever: (aiōnios g166)
16 Si kama mtumwa, bali bora kuliko mtumwa, kama ndugu mpendwa. Yeye ni mpendwa sana kwangu na hata kwako zaidi, yeye kama mwanadamu na kama ndugu katika Bwana.
Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord?
17 Hivyo kama unanihesabu mimi kuwa mshirika wako, mkaribishe kama vile ungenikaribisha mimi mwenyewe.
If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.
18 Kama amekukosea lolote au kama unamdai chochote, nidai mimi.
And if he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is in thy debt, put that to my account.
19 Ni mimi Paulo, ninayeandika waraka huu kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe. Nitakulipa. Sitaji kwamba nakudai hata nafsi yako.
I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thy own self also.
20 Ndugu yangu, natamani nipate faida kwako katika Bwana, uuburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Nikiwa na hakika ya utii wako, nakuandikia, nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya yale ninayokuomba.
Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 Jambo moja zaidi: Niandalie chumba cha wageni, kwa kuwa nataraji kurudishwa kwenu kama jibu la maombi yenu.
But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 Epafra, aliye mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.
There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 Vivyo hivyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema na Luka, watendakazi wenzangu wanakusalimu.
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow labourers.
25 Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho zenu. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
