Filemoni 1
1 Mimi Paulo, mfungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu, na ndugu Timotheo, ninakuandikia wewe Filemoni mpendwa, mfanyakazi mwenzetu
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2 na kanisa linalokutana nyumbani kwako, na wewe dada Afia, na askari mwenzetu Arkupo.
and to Apphia our sister, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Tunawatakieni neema na amani kutoka kwa Mungu Baba yetu, na kwa Bwana yesu Kristo.
Grace to you 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 always, making mention of you 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 of the faith which you have toward 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 the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you in Christ.
7 Ndugu, upendo wako yameniletea furaha kubwa na kunipa moyo sana! Nawe umeichangamsha mioyo ya watu wa Mungu.
For I have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 Kwa sababu hiyo, ningeweza, kwa uhodari kabisa, nikiwa ndugu yako katika Kristo, kukuamuru ufanye unachopaswa kufanya.
Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
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 the basis of love I rather appeal, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
10 Basi, ninalo ombi moja kwako kuhusu mwanangu Onesimo, ambaye ni mwanangu katika Kristo kwani nimekuwa baba yake nikiwa kifungoni.
I appeal to you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
11 Ni Onesimo yuleyule ambaye wakati mmoja alikuwa hakufai kitu, lakini sasa ananifaa mimi na wewe pia.
who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
12 Sasa namrudisha kwako, naye ni kama moyo wangu mimi mwenyewe.
I am sending back to you, him who is my very heart,
13 Ningependa akae nami hapa anisaidie badala yako wakati niwapo kifungoni kwa sababu ya Habari Njema.
whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
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 I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have 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 slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to 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 count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 Kama alikuwa amekukosea kitu, au alikuwa na deni lako, basi, unidai mimi.
But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, 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, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self 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 from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
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 beyond what I say.
22 Pamoja na hayo, nitayarishie chumba kwani natumaini kwamba kwa sala zenu, Mungu atanijalia niwatembeleeni.
Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23 Epafra, mfungwa mwenzangu kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 Nao akina Marko, Aristarko, Dema na Luka, wafanyakazi wenzangu, wanakusalimu.
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 Nawatakieni ninyi nyote neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
