UFilimoni 1

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

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

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

to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly 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 thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

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

hearing of your love and of the faith which you have towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints,

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

that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

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

For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

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

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

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

yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 Ngiyakuncenga ngomntanami, engimzeleyo kuzibopho zami, uOnesimo,

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,

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

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

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

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

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

whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

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 consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

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

For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever, (aiōnios g166)

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

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 Ngakho uba usithi ngingumhlanganyeli lawe, memukele njengami.

If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

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

But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.

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

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

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

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

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

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

Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23 Uyakubingelela uEpafra oyisibotshwa kanye lami kuKristu Jesu,

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

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

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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

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