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 Messiah Yeshua, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2 kwa dada yetu mpendwa Afia, kwa Arkipo askari mwenzetu na kwa kanisa lile likutanalo nyumbani mwako:
to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your 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 the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
4 Siku zote ninamshukuru Mungu ninapokukumbuka katika maombi yangu,
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5 kwa sababu ninasikia juu ya imani yako katika Bwana Yesu na upendo wako kwa watakatifu wote.
hearing of your love and of the faith which you have towards the Lord Yeshua and towards all the holy ones,
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 fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Messiah Yeshua.
7 Upendo wako umenifurahisha mno na kunitia moyo, kwa sababu wewe ndugu, umeiburudisha mioyo ya watakatifu.
For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 Hata hivyo, ingawa katika Kristo ningeweza kuwa na ujasiri na kukuagiza yale yakupasayo kutenda,
Therefore though I have all boldness in Messiah to command you that which is appropriate,
9 lakini ninakuomba kwa upendo, mimi Paulo, mzee na pia sasa nikiwa mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu,
yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Yeshua the Messiah.
10 nakuomba kwa ajili ya mwanangu Onesimo, aliyefanyika mwanangu nilipokuwa kwenye minyororo.
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,
11 Mwanzoni alikuwa hakufai, lakini sasa anakufaa sana wewe na mimi pia.
who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
12 Namtuma kwako, yeye aliye moyo wangu hasa.
I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13 Ningependa nikae naye ili ashike nafasi yako ya kunisaidia wakati huu nikiwa kifungoni kwa ajili ya Injili.
whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
14 Lakini sikutaka kufanya lolote bila idhini yako, ili wema wowote uufanyao usiwe wa lazima, bali wa hiari.
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever, (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.
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.
17 Hivyo kama unanihesabu mimi kuwa mshirika wako, mkaribishe kama vile ungenikaribisha mimi mwenyewe.
If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 Kama amekukosea lolote au kama unamdai chochote, nidai mimi.
But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, 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, 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).
20 Ndugu yangu, natamani nipate faida kwako katika Bwana, uuburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 Nikiwa na hakika ya utii wako, nakuandikia, nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya yale ninayokuomba.
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22 Jambo moja zaidi: Niandalie chumba cha wageni, kwa kuwa nataraji kurudishwa kwenu kama jibu la maombi yenu.
Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23 Epafra, aliye mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Messiah Yeshua, greets you,
24 Vivyo hivyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema na Luka, watendakazi wenzangu wanakusalimu.
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho zenu. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit. Amen.
