1
Paulo, mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu, na Timotheo aliye ndugu yetu, kwa Filemoni mpendwa wetu, mtenda kazi pamoja nasi,
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
2
na kwa Afia, ndugu yetu, na kwa Arkipo askari mwenzetu, na kwa kanisa lililo katika nyumba yako.
to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
3
Neema na iwe kwenu, na amani, zitokazo kwa Mungu, Baba yetu, na kwa Bwana Yesu Kristo.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4
Namshukuru Mungu wangu sikuzote, nikikukumbuka katika maombi yangu;
I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,
5
nikisikia habari za upendo wako na imani uliyo nayo kwa Bwana Yesu na kwa watakatifu wote;
because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
6
ili kwamba ushirika wa imani yako ufanye kazi yake, katika ujuzi wa kila kitu chema kilicho kwetu, katika Kristo.
I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
7
Maana nalikuwa na furaha nyingi na faraja kwa sababu ya upendo wako, kwa kuwa mioyo ya watakatifu imeburudishwa nawe, ndugu yangu.
I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
8
Kwa hiyo, nijapokuwa nina ujasiri katika Kristo kukuagiza likupasalo;
So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,
9
lakini, kwa ajili ya upendo nakusihi, kwa kuwa ni kama nilivyo, Paulo mzee, na sasa mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu pia.
I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
10
Nakusihi kwa ajili ya mtoto wangu niliyemzaa katika vifungo vyangu, yaani, Onesimo;
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
11
ambaye zamani alikuwa hakufai, bali sasa akufaa sana, wewe na mimi pia;
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12
niliyemtuma kwako, yeye mwenyewe, maana ni moyo wangu hasa;
I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.
13
ambaye mimi nalitaka akae kwangu, apate kunitumikia badala yako katika vifungo vya Injili.
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.
14
Lakini sikutaka kutenda neno lo lote isipokuwa kwa shauri lako, ili kwamba wema wako usiwe kama kwa lazima, bali kwa hiari.
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.
15
Maana, labda ndiyo sababu alitengwa nawe kwa muda, ili uwe naye tena milele;
For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—
16
tokea sasa, si kama mtumwa, bali zaidi ya mtumwa, ndugu mpendwa; kwangu mimi sana, na kwako wewe zaidi sana, katika mwili na katika Bwana.
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.
17
Basi kama ukiniona mimi kuwa mshirika nawe, mpokee huyu kama mimi mwenyewe.
So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18
Na kama amekudhulumu, au unamwia kitu, ukiandike hicho juu yangu.
But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
19
Mimi Paulo nimeandika kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe, mimi nitalipa. Sikuambii kwamba nakuwia hata nafsi yako.
I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
20
Naam, ndugu yangu, nipate faida kwako katika Bwana; uniburudishe moyo wangu katika Kristo.
Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21
Kwa kuwa nakuamini kutii kwako ndiyo maana nimekuandikia, nikijua ya kuwa utafanya zaidi ya hayo nisemayo.
Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22
Na pamoja na hayo uniwekee tayari mahali pa kukaa; maana nataraji ya kwamba kwa maombi yenu mtajaliwa kunipata.
In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23
Epafra, aliyefungwa pamoja nami katika Kristo Yesu, akusalimu;
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,
24
na Marko, na Aristarko, na Dema, na Luka, watendao kazi pamoja nami.
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25
Neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo na iwe pamoja na roho zenu.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.