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 the brother Timothy to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,
2 kwa dada yetu mpendwa Afia, kwa Arkipo askari mwenzetu na kwa kanisa lile likutanalo nyumbani mwako:
and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.
3 Neema iwe nanyi na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na Bwana Yesu Kristo.
May 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 always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.
5 kwa sababu ninasikia juu ya imani yako katika Bwana Yesu na upendo wako kwa watakatifu wote.
I have heard of the love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the believers.
6 Naomba utiwe nguvu katika kuishuhudia imani yako, ili upate kuwa na ufahamu mkamilifu juu ya kila kitu chema tulicho nacho ndani ya Kristo.
I pray that the fellowship of your faith may be effective for the knowledge of everything good that is among us in Christ.
7 Upendo wako umenifurahisha mno na kunitia moyo, kwa sababu wewe ndugu, umeiburudisha mioyo ya watakatifu.
For I have had much joy and comfort because of your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
8 Hata hivyo, ingawa katika Kristo ningeweza kuwa na ujasiri na kukuagiza yale yakupasayo kutenda,
Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,
9 lakini ninakuomba kwa upendo, mimi Paulo, mzee na pia sasa nikiwa mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu,
yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
10 nakuomba kwa ajili ya mwanangu Onesimo, aliyefanyika mwanangu nilipokuwa kwenye minyororo.
I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.
11 Mwanzoni alikuwa hakufai, lakini sasa anakufaa sana wewe na mimi pia.
For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12 Namtuma kwako, yeye aliye moyo wangu hasa.
I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart.
13 Ningependa nikae naye ili ashike nafasi yako ya kunisaidia wakati huu nikiwa kifungoni kwa ajili ya Injili.
I wish I could have kept him with me, so he could serve me for you, while I am in chains for the sake of 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. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will.
Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back 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 would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.
17 Hivyo kama unanihesabu mimi kuwa mshirika wako, mkaribishe kama vile ungenikaribisha mimi mwenyewe.
So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.
18 Kama amekukosea lolote au kama unamdai chochote, nidai mimi.
If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.
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 myself will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your own self!
20 Ndugu yangu, natamani nipate faida kwako katika Bwana, uuburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Nikiwa na hakika ya utii wako, nakuandikia, nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya yale ninayokuomba.
Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.
22 Jambo moja zaidi: Niandalie chumba cha wageni, kwa kuwa nataraji kurudishwa kwenu kama jibu la maombi yenu.
At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.
23 Epafra, aliye mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.
24 Vivyo hivyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema na Luka, watendakazi wenzangu wanakusalimu.
So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho zenu. Amen.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
