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 the beloved, and our fellow-labourer,
2 kwa dada yetu mpendwa Afia, kwa Arkipo askari mwenzetu na kwa kanisa lile likutanalo nyumbani mwako:
and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church at thy house:
3 Neema iwe nanyi na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na Bwana Yesu Kristo.
grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Siku zote ninamshukuru Mungu ninapokukumbuka katika maombi yangu,
I thank my God always, making mention 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 love and faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and unto 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 there may be an operative communication of thy faith made known by every good thing, which is in you towards Jesus Christ.
7 Upendo wako umenifurahisha mno na kunitia moyo, kwa sababu wewe ndugu, umeiburudisha mioyo ya watakatifu.
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, 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 in Christ great liberty to enjoin thee what is becoming,
9 lakini ninakuomba kwa upendo, mimi Paulo, mzee na pia sasa nikiwa mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu,
I rather for love’s sake entreat, being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ.
10 nakuomba kwa ajili ya mwanangu Onesimo, aliyefanyika mwanangu nilipokuwa kwenye minyororo.
I entreat thee for my son, whom I have begotten during my bonds, Onesimus:
11 Mwanzoni alikuwa hakufai, lakini sasa anakufaa sana wewe na mimi pia.
who in time past hath been an unprofitable servant to thee, but now very profitable to thee and to me:
12 Namtuma kwako, yeye aliye moyo wangu hasa.
whom I have sent back; thou therefore receive him, even as my own bowels:
13 Ningependa nikae naye ili ashike nafasi yako ya kunisaidia wakati huu nikiwa kifungoni kwa ajili ya Injili.
whom I wished to detain about myself, that in thy stead he might have waited upon me during my bonds for the gospel:
14 Lakini sikutaka kufanya lolote bila idhini yako, ili wema wowote uufanyao usiwe wa lazima, bali wa hiari.
but without thy consent would I do nothing; that this good deed of thine might not be as of necessity, but from thy own choice.
For to this end perhaps was he separated from thee for a season, that thou mightest receive him 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.
no longer as a slave, but above a slave, as a brother beloved, especially by me, but how much more by 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 holdest me a sharer with thee, receive him as myself.
18 Kama amekukosea lolote au kama unamdai chochote, nidai mimi.
If he hath injured thee or oweth thee ought, 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 given it under my own hand, I will repay it, not to say to thee, that thou owest even thine own self unto me.
20 Ndugu yangu, natamani nipate faida kwako katika Bwana, uuburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
Yea, brother, I wish to have joy in 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.
Having confidence in thy obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do more than I say.
22 Jambo moja zaidi: Niandalie chumba cha wageni, kwa kuwa nataraji kurudishwa kwenu kama jibu la maombi yenu.
But at the same time 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, 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 thy spirit. Amen. Written to Philemon from Rome, by Onesimus one of his household.
