Filemoni 1
1 Paulo, mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu, na ndugu Timotheo kwa Filemoni, mpendwa rafiki yetu na mtenda kazi pamoja nasi,
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and the brother Timothy to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,
2 na kwa Afia dada yetu, na kwa Arkipas askari mwenzetu, na kwa kanisa lile linalokutana nyumbani kwako.
and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.
3 Neema iwe kwenu na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana Yesu Kristo.
May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Wakati wote namshukuru Mungu. Ninakutaja katika maombi yangu.
I always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.
5 Nimesikia upendo na imani uliyonayo katika Bwana Yesu na kwa ajili ya waumini wote.
I have heard of the love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the believers.
6 Ninaomba kwamba ushirika wa imani yenu iwe na ufanisi katika ujuzi wa kila jambo jema lililoko kati yetu katika 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 Kwa kuwa nimekuwa na furaha na faraja kwa sababu ya upendo wako, kwa sababu mioyo ya waumini imekuwa ikitulizwa nawe, ndugu.
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 Kwa hiyo, ingawa nina ujasiri wote katika Kristo kukuamuru wewe kufanya kile unachoweza kufanya,
Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,
9 lakini kwa sababu ya upendo, badala yake nakusihi - mimi, Paulo niliye mzee, na sasa ni mfungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu.
yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
10 Ninakusihi kuhusu mwanangu Onesmo, niliyemzaa katika vifungo vyangu.
I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.
11 Kwa kuwa mwanzoni hakukufaa, lakini sasa anakufaa wewe na mimi.
For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12 Nimemtuma- yeye ambaye ni wa moyo wangu hasa - kurudi kwako.
I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart.
13 Nataraji angeendelea kubaki pamoja nami, ili anitumikie badala yako, wakati niwako 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 jambo lolote bila ruhusa yako. Nilifanya hivi ili kwamba jambo lolote zuri lisifanyike kwa sababu nilikulazimisha, bali kwa sababu ulipenda mwenyewe kulitenda.
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.
15 Labda ni sababu alitengwa nawe kwa muda, ilikuwa hivyo ili uwe pamoja naye milele. (aiōnios g166)
Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back forever. (aiōnios g166)
16 Ili kwamba asiwe tena mtumwa, bali bora zaidi ya mtumwa, kama ndugu mpendwa, hasa kwangu, na zaidi sana kwako, katika mwili na 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 Na hivyo kama wanichukulia mimi mshirika, mpokee kama ambavyo ungenipokea mimi.
So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.
18 Lakini kama amekukosea jambo lolote, au unamdai kitu chochote, kidai hicho kutoka kwangu.
If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.
19 Mimi Paulo, ninaandika kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe: mimi nitakulipa. Sisemi kwako kwamba nakudai maisha yako hasa.
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 Naam ndugu, acha nipate furaha ya Bwana toka kwako: uburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Nikiwa na imani kuhusu utii wako, nakuandikia nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya vile ninavyokuomba.
Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.
22 Wakati huo huo andaa chumba cha wageni kwa ajili yangu, kwa kuwa ninatumaini kupitia maombi yako nitakutembelea hivi karibuni.
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, mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu anakusalimu,
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.
24 na kama afanyavyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema, Luka, watendakazi pamoja nami.
So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho yako. Amina.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
