UFilimoni 1

1 UPawuli isibotshwa sikaKristu Jesu loTimothi umzalwane, kuFilimoni othandekayo lesisebenzi kanye lathi,

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear helper in the faith,

2 lakuApifiya othandekayo, lakuArkipho owebutho kanye lathi, lakubandla elisendlini yakho:

And to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus, our brother in God's army, and to the church in your house:

3 Umusa kawube kini lokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu leNkosini uJesu Kristu.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu wami, ngikuphatha ngezikhathi zonke emikhulekweni yami,

I give praise to God at all times and make prayer for you,

5 ngisizwa ngothando lwakho langokholo olalo eNkosini uJesu lakubo bonke abangcwele,

Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints;

6 ukuze ukuhlanganyela kokholo lwakho kube lamandla elwazini lwento yonke enhle ekini kuKristu Jesu.

That the faith which you have in common with them may be working with power, in the knowledge of every good thing in you, for Christ.

7 Ngoba silentokozo enkulu lenduduzo ethandweni lwakho, ngoba imibilini yabangcwele yavuselelwa ngawe, mzalwane.

For I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been made strong again through you, brother.

8 Ngalokho, lanxa ngilesibindi esikhulu kuKristu sokuthi ngikulaye into efaneleyo,

And so, though I might, in the name of Christ, give you orders to do what is right,

9 kanti ngenxa yothando kungcono ukuthi ngincenge, nginjengonje, uPawuli omdala, esengiyisibotshwa futhi sikaJesu Kristu.

Still, because of love, in place of an order, I make a request to you, I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus:

10 Ngiyakuncenga ngomntanami, engimzeleyo kuzibopho zami, uOnesimo,

My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains,

11 okade engelasizo kuwe, kodwa khathesi-ke ulosizo kuwe lakimi,

Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:

12 engimbuyisela kuwe; kodwa wena, memukele, okuyikuthi imibilini yami;

Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:

13 ebengifisa mina ukumbamba abe lami, ukuze angisebenzele esikhundleni sakho kuzibopho zevangeli;

Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place:

14 kodwa kangithandanga ukwenza ulutho ngaphandle kwemvumo yakho, ukuze okuhle kwakho kungabi ngokokubanjwa ngamandla, kodwa njengokwesihle.

But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.

15 Ngoba mhlawumbe wehlukaniswa lawe okwesikhatshana ngenxa yalokhu, ukuze ubuye umemukele phakade; (aiōnios g166)

For it is possible that for this reason he was parted from you for a time, so that you might have him for ever; (aiōnios g166)

16 angabe esaba njengesigqili, kodwa ngaphezu kwesigqili, umzalwane othandekayo, ikakhulu kimi, kodwa kakhulu kangakanani kuwe konke enyameni leNkosini.

No longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother, very dear to me specially, but much more to you, in the flesh as well as in the Lord.

17 Ngakho uba usithi ngingumhlanganyeli lawe, memukele njengami.

If then you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself.

18 Kodwa uba ekone ngolutho kumbe elomlandu, lokho kubalele kimi;

If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account.

19 mina Pawuli ngibhale ngesandla sami, mina ngizahlawula; ukuthi ngingatsho kuwe ukuthi lawe uqobo ulomlandu oseleyo kimi.

I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life.

20 Yebo, mzalwane, sengathi ngingaba lentokozo ngawe eNkosini; uvuselele imibilini yami eNkosini.

So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.

21 Ngikubhalele ngithemba ukulalela kwakho, ngisazi ukuthi lawe uzakwenza okungaphezu kwalokho engikutshoyo.

Being certain that you will do my desire, I am writing to you, in the knowledge that you will do even more than I say.

22 Futhi ngesikhathi esifananayo ungilungisele lami indawo yokuhlala; ngoba ngiyathemba ukuthi ngemikhuleko yenu ngizanikwa kini.

And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you.

23 Uyakubingelela uEpafra oyisibotshwa kanye lami kuKristu Jesu,

Epaphras, my brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love;

24 uMarko, uAristako, uDema, uLuka, izisebenzi kanye lami.

And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my brother-workers.

25 Umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu kawube lomoya wenu. Ameni.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. So be it.