UFilimoni 1

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

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,

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

and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house.

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

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

4 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu wami, ngikuphatha ngezikhathi zonke emikhulekweni yami,

I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,

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

(for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints)

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

so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus.

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

For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

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

Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,

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

but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 Ngiyakuncenga ngomntanami, engimzeleyo kuzibopho zami, uOnesimo,

I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.

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

In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.

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

So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.

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

I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.

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

But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.

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

So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity, (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, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

17 Ngakho uba usithi ngingumhlanganyeli lawe, memukele njengami.

Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.

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

But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.

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

I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me.

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

So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.

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

I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say.

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

But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.

23 Uyakubingelela uEpafra oyisibotshwa kanye lami kuKristu Jesu,

Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,

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

and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.

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

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.