Filemoni 1
1 Paulo, mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu, na ndugu Timotheo kwa Filemoni, mpendwa rafiki yetu na mtenda kazi pamoja nasi,
To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,
2 na kwa Afia dada yetu, na kwa Arkipas askari mwenzetu, na kwa kanisa lile linalokutana nyumbani kwako.
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 kwenu na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana Yesu Kristo.
Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Wakati wote namshukuru Mungu. Ninakutaja katika maombi yangu.
I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,
5 Nimesikia upendo na imani uliyonayo katika Bwana Yesu na kwa ajili ya waumini 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 Ninaomba kwamba ushirika wa imani yenu iwe na ufanisi katika ujuzi wa kila jambo jema lililoko kati yetu katika 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 Kwa kuwa nimekuwa na furaha na faraja kwa sababu ya upendo wako, kwa sababu mioyo ya waumini imekuwa ikitulizwa nawe, ndugu.
For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.
8 Kwa hiyo, ingawa nina ujasiri wote katika Kristo kukuamuru wewe kufanya kile unachoweza kufanya,
And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,
9 lakini kwa sababu ya upendo, badala yake nakusihi - mimi, Paulo niliye mzee, na sasa ni mfungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu.
yet for love’s sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!
10 Ninakusihi kuhusu mwanangu Onesmo, niliyemzaa katika vifungo vyangu.
I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.
11 Kwa kuwa mwanzoni hakukufaa, lakini sasa anakufaa wewe na mimi.
Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.
12 Nimemtuma- yeye ambaye ni wa moyo wangu hasa - kurudi kwako.
I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!
13 Nataraji angeendelea kubaki pamoja nami, ili anitumikie badala yako, wakati niwako 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 jambo lolote bila ruhusa yako. Nilifanya hivi ili kwamba jambo lolote zuri lisifanyike kwa sababu nilikulazimisha, bali kwa sababu ulipenda mwenyewe kulitenda.
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.
15 Labda ni sababu alitengwa nawe kwa muda, ilikuwa hivyo ili uwe pamoja naye milele. (aiōnios g166)
Perhaps for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back forever, (aiōnios g166)
16 Ili kwamba asiwe tena mtumwa, bali bora zaidi ya mtumwa, kama ndugu mpendwa, hasa kwangu, na zaidi sana kwako, katika mwili na 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 Na hivyo kama wanichukulia mimi mshirika, mpokee kama ambavyo ungenipokea mimi.
If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
18 Lakini kama amekukosea jambo lolote, au unamdai kitu chochote, kidai hicho kutoka kwangu.
And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.
19 Mimi Paulo, ninaandika kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe: mimi nitakulipa. Sisemi kwako kwamba nakudai maisha yako hasa.
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 Naam ndugu, acha nipate furaha ya Bwana toka kwako: uburudishe 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 imani kuhusu utii wako, nakuandikia nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya vile ninavyokuomba.
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 Wakati huo huo andaa chumba cha wageni kwa ajili yangu, kwa kuwa ninatumaini kupitia maombi yako nitakutembelea hivi karibuni.
Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.
23 Epafra, mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu anakusalimu,
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;
24 na kama afanyavyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema, Luka, watendakazi pamoja nami.
so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho yako. Amina.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
