1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
1Mimi Paulo, mfungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu, na ndugu Timotheo, ninakuandikia wewe Filemoni mpendwa, mfanyakazi mwenzetu
2to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
2na kanisa linalokutana nyumbani kwako, na wewe dada Afia, na askari mwenzetu Arkupo.
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Tunawatakieni neema na amani kutoka kwa Mungu Baba yetu, na kwa Bwana yesu Kristo.
4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
4Kila wakati ninaposali nakukumbuka wewe Filemoni, na kumshukuru Mungu
5hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
5maana nasikia habari za imani yako kwa Bwana wetu Yesu na upendo wako kwa watu wote wa Mungu.
6that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
6Naomba ili imani hiyo unayoshiriki pamoja nasi ikuwezeshe kuwa na ujuzi mkamilifu zaidi wa baraka zote tunazopata katika kuungana kwetu na Kristo.
7For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
7Ndugu, upendo wako yameniletea furaha kubwa na kunipa moyo sana! Nawe umeichangamsha mioyo ya watu wa Mungu.
8Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
8Kwa sababu hiyo, ningeweza, kwa uhodari kabisa, nikiwa ndugu yako katika Kristo, kukuamuru ufanye unachopaswa kufanya.
9yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
9Lakini kwa sababu ya upendo, ni afadhali zaidi nikuombe. Nafanya hivi ingawa mimi ni Paulo, balozi wa Kristo Yesu, na sasa pia mfungwa kwa ajili yake.
10I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus, Onesimus means “useful.”
10Basi, ninalo ombi moja kwako kuhusu mwanangu Onesimo, ambaye ni mwanangu katika Kristo kwani nimekuwa baba yake nikiwa kifungoni.
11who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
11Ni Onesimo yuleyule ambaye wakati mmoja alikuwa hakufai kitu, lakini sasa ananifaa mimi na wewe pia.
12I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
12Sasa namrudisha kwako, naye ni kama moyo wangu mimi mwenyewe.
13whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
13Ningependa akae nami hapa anisaidie badala yako wakati niwapo kifungoni kwa sababu ya Habari Njema.
14But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
14Lakini sitafanya chochote bila kibali chako. Sipendi kukulazimisha unisaidie, kwani wema wako unapaswa kutokana na hiari yako wewe mwenyewe na si kwa kulazimika.
15For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,
15Labda Onesimo aliondoka kwako kwa kitambo tu, kusudi uweze tena kuwa naye daima.
16no 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.
16Na sasa yeye si mtumwa tu, ila ni bora zaidi ya mtumwa: yeye ni ndugu yetu mpenzi. Na wa maana sana kwangu mimi, na kwako atakuwa wa maana zaidi kama mtumwa na kama ndugu katika Bwana.
17If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
17Basi, ikiwa wanitambua mimi kuwa mwenzako, mpokee tena kama vile ungenipokea mimi mwenyewe.
18But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.
18Kama alikuwa amekukosea kitu, au alikuwa na deni lako, basi, unidai mimi.
19I, 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).
19Naandika jambo hili kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe: Mimi Paulo nitalipa! (Tena sina haja ya kusema kwamba wewe unalo deni kwangu la nafsi yako.)
20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
20Haya, basi, ndugu yangu, nifanyie jambo hilo kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana; burudisha moyo wangu kama ndugu katika Kristo.
21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
21Naandika nikitumaini kwamba utanikubalia ombi langu; tena najua kwamba utafanya hata zaidi ya haya ninayokuomba.
22Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
22Pamoja na hayo, nitayarishie chumba kwani natumaini kwamba kwa sala zenu, Mungu atanijalia niwatembeleeni.
23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
23Epafra, mfungwa mwenzangu kwa ajili ya Kristo Yesu, anakusalimu.
24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
24Nao akina Marko, Aristarko, Dema na Luka, wafanyakazi wenzangu, wanakusalimu.
25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
25Nawatakieni ninyi nyote neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.