Filemoni 1
1 Paulo, mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu, pamoja na Timotheo ndugu yetu: Kwa Filemoni rafiki yetu mpendwa na mtendakazi mwenzetu,
To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,
2 kwa dada yetu mpendwa Afia, kwa Arkipo askari mwenzetu na kwa kanisa lile likutanalo nyumbani mwako:
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 Neema iwe nanyi na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na Bwana Yesu Kristo.
Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Siku zote ninamshukuru Mungu ninapokukumbuka katika maombi yangu,
I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,
5 kwa sababu ninasikia juu ya imani yako katika Bwana Yesu na upendo wako kwa watakatifu wote.
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 utiwe nguvu katika kuishuhudia imani yako, ili upate kuwa na ufahamu mkamilifu juu ya kila kitu chema tulicho nacho ndani ya 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 Upendo wako umenifurahisha mno na kunitia moyo, kwa sababu wewe ndugu, umeiburudisha mioyo ya watakatifu.
For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.
8 Hata hivyo, ingawa katika Kristo ningeweza kuwa na ujasiri na kukuagiza yale yakupasayo kutenda,
And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,
9 lakini ninakuomba kwa upendo, mimi Paulo, mzee na pia sasa nikiwa mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu,
yet for love’s sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!
10 nakuomba kwa ajili ya mwanangu Onesimo, aliyefanyika mwanangu nilipokuwa kwenye minyororo.
I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.
11 Mwanzoni alikuwa hakufai, lakini sasa anakufaa sana wewe na mimi pia.
Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.
12 Namtuma kwako, yeye aliye moyo wangu hasa.
I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!
13 Ningependa nikae naye ili ashike nafasi yako ya kunisaidia wakati huu nikiwa kifungoni kwa ajili ya Injili.
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 sikutaka kufanya lolote bila idhini yako, ili wema wowote uufanyao usiwe wa lazima, bali wa hiari.
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 Si kama mtumwa, bali bora kuliko mtumwa, kama ndugu mpendwa. Yeye ni mpendwa sana kwangu na hata kwako zaidi, yeye kama mwanadamu 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 Hivyo kama unanihesabu mimi kuwa mshirika wako, mkaribishe kama vile ungenikaribisha mimi mwenyewe.
If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
18 Kama amekukosea lolote au kama unamdai chochote, nidai mimi.
And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.
19 Ni mimi Paulo, ninayeandika waraka huu kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe. Nitakulipa. Sitaji kwamba nakudai hata 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 Ndugu yangu, natamani nipate faida kwako katika Bwana, uuburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!
21 Nikiwa na hakika ya utii wako, nakuandikia, nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya yale 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 Jambo moja zaidi: Niandalie chumba cha wageni, kwa kuwa nataraji kurudishwa kwenu kama jibu la maombi yenu.
Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.
23 Epafra, aliye mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;
24 Vivyo hivyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema na Luka, watendakazi wenzangu wanakusalimu.
so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho zenu. Amen.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
