< 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 Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,
2 na kwa Afia dada yetu, na kwa Arkipas askari mwenzetu, na kwa kanisa lile linalokutana nyumbani kwako.
and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house:
3 Neema iwe kwenu na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana Yesu Kristo.
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
4 Wakati wote namshukuru Mungu. Ninakutaja katika maombi yangu.
I give thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers,
5 Nimesikia upendo na imani uliyonayo katika Bwana Yesu na kwa ajili ya waumini wote.
hearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
6 Ninaomba kwamba ushirika wa imani yenu iwe na ufanisi katika ujuzi wa kila jambo jema lililoko kati yetu katika Kristo.
that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;
7 Kwa kuwa nimekuwa na furaha na faraja kwa sababu ya upendo wako, kwa sababu mioyo ya waumini imekuwa ikitulizwa nawe, ndugu.
for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
8 Kwa hiyo, ingawa nina ujasiri wote katika Kristo kukuamuru wewe kufanya kile unachoweza kufanya,
Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit —
9 lakini kwa sababu ya upendo, badala yake nakusihi - mimi, Paulo niliye mzee, na sasa ni mfungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu.
because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;
10 Ninakusihi kuhusu mwanangu Onesmo, niliyemzaa katika vifungo vyangu.
I entreat thee concerning my child — whom I did beget in my bonds — Onesimus,
11 Kwa kuwa mwanzoni hakukufaa, lakini sasa anakufaa wewe na mimi.
who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,
12 Nimemtuma- yeye ambaye ni wa moyo wangu hasa - kurudi kwako.
whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,
13 Nataraji angeendelea kubaki pamoja nami, ili anitumikie badala yako, wakati niwako kifungoni kwa ajili ya injili.
whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,
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.
and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,
15 Labda ni sababu alitengwa nawe kwa muda, ilikuwa hivyo ili uwe pamoja naye milele. (aiōnios )
for perhaps because of this he did depart for an hour, that age-duringly thou mayest have him, (aiōnios )
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 more as a servant, but above a servant — a brother beloved, especially to me, and how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord!
17 Na hivyo kama wanichukulia mimi mshirika, mpokee kama ambavyo ungenipokea mimi.
If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,
18 Lakini kama amekukosea jambo lolote, au unamdai kitu chochote, kidai hicho kutoka kwangu.
and if he did hurt to thee, or doth owe anything, this to me be reckoning;
19 Mimi Paulo, ninaandika kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe: mimi nitakulipa. Sisemi kwako kwamba nakudai maisha yako hasa.
I, Paul did write with my hand, I — I will repay; that I may not say that also thyself, besides, to me thou dost owe.
20 Naam ndugu, acha nipate furaha ya Bwana toka kwako: uburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;
21 Nikiwa na imani kuhusu utii wako, nakuandikia nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya vile ninavyokuomba.
having been confident in thy obedience I did write to thee, having known that also above what I may say thou wilt do;
22 Wakati huo huo andaa chumba cha wageni kwa ajili yangu, kwa kuwa ninatumaini kupitia maombi yako nitakutembelea hivi karibuni.
and at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
23 Epafra, mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu anakusalimu,
Salute thee doth Epaphras, (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus, )
24 na kama afanyavyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema, Luka, watendakazi pamoja nami.
Markus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lukas, my fellow-workmen!
25 Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho yako. Amina.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.