Philemon 1

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

1 Paulo, mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu, pamoja na Timotheo ndugu yetu: Kwa Filemoni rafiki yetu mpendwa na mtendakazi mwenzetu,

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:

2 kwa dada yetu mpendwa Afia, kwa Arkipo askari mwenzetu na kwa kanisa lile likutanalo nyumbani mwako:

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

3 Neema iwe nanyi na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na Bwana Yesu Kristo.

4 I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,

4 Siku zote ninamshukuru Mungu ninapokukumbuka katika maombi yangu,

5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

5 kwa sababu ninasikia juu ya imani yako katika Bwana Yesu na upendo wako kwa watakatifu wote.

6 I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.

6 Naomba utiwe nguvu katika kuishuhudia imani yako, ili upate kuwa na ufahamu mkamilifu juu ya kila kitu chema tulicho nacho ndani ya Kristo.

7 I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

7 Upendo wako umenifurahisha mno na kunitia moyo, kwa sababu wewe ndugu, umeiburudisha mioyo ya watakatifu.

8 So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

8 Hata hivyo, ingawa katika Kristo ningeweza kuwa na ujasiri na kukuagiza yale yakupasayo kutenda,

9 I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

9 lakini ninakuomba kwa upendo, mimi Paulo, mzee na pia sasa nikiwa mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu,

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.

10 nakuomba kwa ajili ya mwanangu Onesimo, aliyefanyika mwanangu nilipokuwa kwenye minyororo.

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

11 Mwanzoni alikuwa hakufai, lakini sasa anakufaa sana wewe na mimi pia.

12 I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

12 Namtuma kwako, yeye aliye moyo wangu hasa.

13 I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

13 Ningependa nikae naye ili ashike nafasi yako ya kunisaidia wakati huu nikiwa kifungoni kwa ajili ya Injili.

14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.

14 Lakini sikutaka kufanya lolote bila idhini yako, ili wema wowote uufanyao usiwe wa lazima, bali wa hiari.

15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—

15 Huenda sababu ya yeye kutengwa nawe kwa kitambo kidogo ni ili uwe naye daima.

16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

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.

17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

17 Hivyo kama unanihesabu mimi kuwa mshirika wako, mkaribishe kama vile ungenikaribisha mimi mwenyewe.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.

18 Kama amekukosea lolote au kama unamdai chochote, nidai mimi.

19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

19 Ni mimi Paulo, ninayeandika waraka huu kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe. Nitakulipa. Sitaji kwamba nakudai hata nafsi yako.

20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

20 Ndugu yangu, natamani nipate faida kwako katika Bwana, uuburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

21 Nikiwa na hakika ya utii wako, nakuandikia, nikijua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya yale ninayokuomba.

22 In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

22 Jambo moja zaidi: Niandalie chumba cha wageni, kwa kuwa nataraji kurudishwa kwenu kama jibu la maombi yenu.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,

23 Epafra, aliye mfungwa mwenzangu katika Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.

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

24 Vivyo hivyo Marko, Aristarko, Dema na Luka, watendakazi wenzangu wanakusalimu.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

25 Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe pamoja na roho zenu. Amen.