Filemoni 1
1 Mimi Paulo, mfungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu, na ndugu Timotheo, ninakuandikia wewe Filemoni mpendwa, mfanyakazi mwenzetu
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy my brother, to Philemon my beloved, and our fellow-laborer,
2 na kanisa linalokutana nyumbani kwako, na wewe dada Afia, na askari mwenzetu Arkupo.
and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church that is in your house:
3 Tunawatakieni neema na amani kutoka kwa Mungu Baba yetu, na kwa Bwana yesu Kristo.
grace be to you all, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Kila wakati ninaposali nakukumbuka wewe Filemoni, na kumshukuru Mungu
I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
5 maana nasikia habari za imani yako kwa Bwana wetu Yesu na upendo wako kwa watu wote wa Mungu.
hearing of your love and your faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints,
6 Naomba ili imani hiyo unayoshiriki pamoja nasi ikuwezeshe kuwa na ujuzi mkamilifu zaidi wa baraka zote tunazopata katika kuungana kwetu na Kristo.
that your participation in the faith may be active in the acknowledgment of every good thing that is in us, to the honor of Christ Jesus.
7 Ndugu, upendo wako yameniletea furaha kubwa na kunipa moyo sana! Nawe umeichangamsha mioyo ya watu wa Mungu.
For we have great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
8 Kwa sababu hiyo, ningeweza, kwa uhodari kabisa, nikiwa ndugu yako katika Kristo, kukuamuru ufanye unachopaswa kufanya.
Wherefore, though I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do that which is becoming,
9 Lakini kwa sababu ya upendo, ni afadhali zaidi nikuombe. Nafanya hivi ingawa mimi ni Paulo, balozi wa Kristo Yesu, na sasa pia mfungwa kwa ajili yake.
yet, on account of my love, I rather exhort you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner on account of Jesus Christ.
10 Basi, ninalo ombi moja kwako kuhusu mwanangu Onesimo, ambaye ni mwanangu katika Kristo kwani nimekuwa baba yake nikiwa kifungoni.
I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,
11 Ni Onesimo yuleyule ambaye wakati mmoja alikuwa hakufai kitu, lakini sasa ananifaa mimi na wewe pia.
who, for some time, has been unprofitable to you, but now is very profitable to you and to me:
12 Sasa namrudisha kwako, naye ni kama moyo wangu mimi mwenyewe.
I send him back, and do you receive him, that is, my son.
13 Ningependa akae nami hapa anisaidie badala yako wakati niwapo kifungoni kwa sababu ya Habari Njema.
I did wish to keep him with me, that, in your stead, he might serve me in my bonds for the gospel;
14 Lakini sitafanya chochote bila kibali chako. Sipendi kukulazimisha unisaidie, kwani wema wako unapaswa kutokana na hiari yako wewe mwenyewe na si kwa kulazimika.
but, without your consent, I was not willing to do any thing, that your good deed might not be as a matter of necessity, but one of free-will.
Perhaps, indeed, lie departed for a short time for this reason, that you might receive him forever; (aiōnios g166)
16 Na sasa yeye si mtumwa tu, ila ni bora zaidi ya mtumwa: yeye ni ndugu yetu mpenzi. Na wa maana sana kwangu mimi, na kwako atakuwa wa maana zaidi kama mtumwa na kama ndugu katika Bwana.
no longer as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially by me, and how much more by you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 Basi, ikiwa wanitambua mimi kuwa mwenzako, mpokee tena kama vile ungenipokea mimi mwenyewe.
If, then, you regard me as a partner, receive him as myself.
18 Kama alikuwa amekukosea kitu, au alikuwa na deni lako, basi, unidai mimi.
But if he has done you any wrong, or owes you any thing, put that to my account.
19 Naandika jambo hili kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe: Mimi Paulo nitalipa! (Tena sina haja ya kusema kwamba wewe unalo deni kwangu la nafsi yako.)
I, Paul, do write it with my own hand, I will repay it; that I may not say to you, that you owe to me even yourself besides.
20 Haya, basi, ndugu yangu, nifanyie jambo hilo kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana; burudisha moyo wangu kama ndugu katika Kristo.
Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 Naandika nikitumaini kwamba utanikubalia ombi langu; tena najua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya haya ninayokuomba.
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 Pamoja na hayo, nitayarishie chumba kwani natumaini kwamba kwa sala zenu, Mungu atanijalia niwatembeleeni.
At the same time, also, prepare me a lodging: for I hope that through the prayers of you all, I may be given to you.
23 Epafra, mfungwa mwenzangu kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.
Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes you:
24 Nao akina Marko, Aristarko, Dema na Luka, wafanyakazi wenzangu, wanakusalimu.
so also do Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers.
25 Nawatakieni ninyi nyote neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits. Amen.
