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 Timothy a brother, to Philemon the beloved, and our fellow-labourer,
2 na kwa Afia dada yetu, na kwa Arkipas askari mwenzetu, na kwa kanisa lile linalokutana nyumbani kwako.
and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church at thy house:
3 Neema iwe kwenu na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana Yesu Kristo.
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 thank 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 which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and unto 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 there may be an operative communication of thy faith made known by every good thing, which is in you towards Jesus Christ.
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 great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Kwa hiyo, ingawa nina ujasiri wote katika Kristo kukuamuru wewe kufanya kile unachoweza kufanya,
Wherefore, though I have in Christ great liberty to enjoin thee what is becoming,
9 lakini kwa sababu ya upendo, badala yake nakusihi - mimi, Paulo niliye mzee, na sasa ni mfungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu.
I rather for love’s sake entreat, being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ.
10 Ninakusihi kuhusu mwanangu Onesmo, niliyemzaa katika vifungo vyangu.
I entreat thee for my son, whom I have begotten during my bonds, Onesimus:
11 Kwa kuwa mwanzoni hakukufaa, lakini sasa anakufaa wewe na mimi.
who in time past hath been an unprofitable servant to thee, but now very profitable to thee and to me:
12 Nimemtuma- yeye ambaye ni wa moyo wangu hasa - kurudi kwako.
whom I have sent back; thou therefore receive him, even as my own bowels:
13 Nataraji angeendelea kubaki pamoja nami, ili anitumikie badala yako, wakati niwako 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 jambo lolote bila ruhusa yako. Nilifanya hivi ili kwamba jambo lolote zuri lisifanyike kwa sababu nilikulazimisha, bali kwa sababu ulipenda mwenyewe kulitenda.
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.
15 Labda ni sababu alitengwa nawe kwa muda, ilikuwa hivyo ili uwe pamoja naye milele. (aiōnios g166)
For to this end perhaps was he separated from thee for a season, that thou mightest receive him for ever; (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 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 Na hivyo kama wanichukulia mimi mshirika, mpokee kama ambavyo ungenipokea mimi.
If therefore thou holdest me a sharer with thee, receive him as myself.
18 Lakini kama amekukosea jambo lolote, au unamdai kitu chochote, kidai hicho kutoka kwangu.
If he hath injured thee or oweth thee ought, put that to my account;
19 Mimi Paulo, ninaandika kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe: mimi nitakulipa. Sisemi kwako kwamba nakudai maisha yako hasa.
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 Naam ndugu, acha nipate furaha ya Bwana toka kwako: uburudishe 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 imani kuhusu utii wako, nakuandikia nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya vile ninavyokuomba.
Having confidence in thy obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do more than I say.
22 Wakati huo huo andaa chumba cha wageni kwa ajili yangu, kwa kuwa ninatumaini kupitia maombi yako nitakutembelea hivi karibuni.
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, mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu anakusalimu,
There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 na kama afanyavyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema, Luka, watendakazi pamoja nami.
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-labourers.
25 Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho yako. Amina.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Amen. Written to Philemon from Rome, by Onesimus one of his household.
