Filemoni 1
1 Paulo, mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu, pamoja na Timotheo ndugu yetu: Kwa Filemoni rafiki yetu mpendwa na mtendakazi mwenzetu,
Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,
2 kwa dada yetu mpendwa Afia, kwa Arkipo askari mwenzetu na kwa kanisa lile likutanalo nyumbani mwako:
and to the beloved Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg) house:
3 Neema iwe nanyi na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na Bwana Yesu Kristo.
Grace to you (pl) and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.
4 Siku zote ninamshukuru Mungu ninapokukumbuka katika maombi yangu,
I always thank my God as I make mention of you (sg) 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 faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for 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.
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 Upendo wako umenifurahisha mno na kunitia moyo, kwa sababu wewe ndugu, umeiburudisha mioyo ya watakatifu.
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 Hata hivyo, ingawa katika Kristo ningeweza kuwa na ujasiri na kukuagiza yale yakupasayo kutenda,
Now then, though I have all boldness in Christ to order you (sg) to do what is right,
9 lakini ninakuomba kwa upendo, mimi Paulo, mzee na pia sasa nikiwa mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu,
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 nakuomba kwa ajili ya mwanangu Onesimo, aliyefanyika mwanangu nilipokuwa kwenye minyororo.
I appeal to you on behalf of the son whom I begot while in my chains, Onesimus, whom I am sending back
11 Mwanzoni alikuwa hakufai, lakini sasa anakufaa sana wewe na mimi pia.
—formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.
12 Namtuma kwako, yeye aliye moyo wangu hasa.
So receive him, who is my very heart
13 Ningependa nikae naye ili ashike nafasi yako ya kunisaidia wakati huu nikiwa kifungoni kwa ajili ya Injili.
—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 Lakini sikutaka kufanya lolote bila idhini yako, ili wema wowote uufanyao usiwe wa lazima, bali wa hiari.
but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your contribution might be voluntary, not as an imposition.
Perhaps this is why he was removed for a while, so 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, very much to me but even more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord.
17 Hivyo kama unanihesabu mimi kuwa mshirika wako, mkaribishe kama vile ungenikaribisha mimi mwenyewe.
So if you consider me a partner, receive him as if it were me.
18 Kama amekukosea lolote au kama unamdai chochote, nidai mimi.
If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.
19 Ni mimi Paulo, ninayeandika waraka huu kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe. Nitakulipa. Sitaji kwamba nakudai hata nafsi yako.
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 Ndugu yangu, natamani nipate faida kwako katika Bwana, uuburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
Yes brother, let me have this benefit 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.
Being confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you (sg) will do even more than I say.
22 Jambo moja zaidi: Niandalie chumba cha wageni, kwa kuwa nataraji kurudishwa kwenu kama jibu la maombi yenu.
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 Epafra, aliye mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, greets you (sg),
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 Jesus be with your (pl) spirit. Amen.
