Filemoni 1
1 Mimi Paulo, mfungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu, na ndugu Timotheo, ninakuandikia wewe Filemoni mpendwa, mfanyakazi mwenzetu
To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,
2 na kanisa linalokutana nyumbani kwako, na wewe dada Afia, na askari mwenzetu Arkupo.
to my sister Apphia, to my fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church which meets at Philemon’s house. From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy.
3 Tunawatakieni neema na amani kutoka kwa Mungu Baba yetu, na kwa Bwana yesu Kristo.
Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Kila wakati ninaposali nakukumbuka wewe Filemoni, na kumshukuru Mungu
I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,
5 maana nasikia habari za imani yako kwa Bwana wetu Yesu na upendo wako kwa watu wote wa Mungu.
because I am hearing of your love and of the faith which you hold, not only toward the Lord Jesus Christ, but 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.
And I pray that your participation may become effectual, as you come to acknowledge every good thing which is in you to Christ.
7 Ndugu, upendo wako yameniletea furaha kubwa na kunipa moyo sana! Nawe umeichangamsha mioyo ya watu wa Mungu.
For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.
8 Kwa sababu hiyo, ningeweza, kwa uhodari kabisa, nikiwa ndugu yako katika Kristo, kukuamuru ufanye unachopaswa kufanya.
And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,
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 for love’s sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!
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 these chains.
11 Ni Onesimo yuleyule ambaye wakati mmoja alikuwa hakufai kitu, lakini sasa ananifaa mimi na wewe pia.
Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.
12 Sasa namrudisha kwako, naye ni kama moyo wangu mimi mwenyewe.
I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!
13 Ningependa akae nami hapa anisaidie badala yako wakati niwapo kifungoni kwa sababu ya Habari Njema.
I could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, 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 unwilling to do anything, so that your kindness to me might be of your own free will, and not of compulsion.
Perhaps for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back 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 slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both as a man and a fellow Christian.
17 Basi, ikiwa wanitambua mimi kuwa mwenzako, mpokee tena kama vile ungenipokea mimi mwenyewe.
If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
18 Kama alikuwa amekukosea kitu, au alikuwa na deni lako, basi, unidai mimi.
And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.
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 am writing this in my own handwriting, "I will repay you." But I will not mention that you owe me, over and over, your very soul.
20 Haya, basi, ndugu yangu, nifanyie jambo hilo kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana; burudisha moyo wangu kama ndugu katika Kristo.
Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!
21 Naandika nikitumaini kwamba utanikubalia ombi langu; tena najua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya haya ninayokuomba.
Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedience, I have written you, knowing full well that you will do by me what I am asking.
22 Pamoja na hayo, nitayarishie chumba kwani natumaini kwamba kwa sala zenu, Mungu atanijalia niwatembeleeni.
Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.
23 Epafra, mfungwa mwenzangu kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;
24 Nao akina Marko, Aristarko, Dema na Luka, wafanyakazi wenzangu, wanakusalimu.
so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 Nawatakieni ninyi nyote neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
