1 From Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy—
To our friend and fellow worker Philemon, 2 and the church that meets in your house, and our sister Apphia, and our fellow soldier Archippus:
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Philemon's Love and Faith
4 Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention you and give thanks to my God. 5 For I hear of your love for all of God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ. 7 Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's people.
A Request for Onesimus
8 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done. 9 But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake. 10 So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father. 11 At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my heart. 13 I would like to keep him here with me, while I am in prison for the gospel's sake, so that he could help me in your place. 14 However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I would like for you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do anything unless you agree.
15 It may be that Onesimus was away from you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time. 16 And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a dear brother in Christ. How much he means to me! And how much more he will mean to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord!
17 So, if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19 Here, I will write this with my own hand: I, Paul, will pay you back. (I should not have to remind you, of course, that you owe your very self to me.) 20 So, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord's sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me up!
21 I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask—in fact I know that you will do even more. 22 At the same time, get a room ready for me, because I hope that God will answer the prayers of all of you and give me back to you.
Final Greetings
23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me for the sake of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, 24 and so do my co-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
1 Okuza ku Paulus, omupandekwa mena ra Kristus Jesus, nomukwetu Timoteus. Matu tjanga orutuu ndwi kepanga retu nomuungure wapamwe na eṱe Filemon 2 na kombongo, ndji woronganena mondjuwo yoye, na komuṱena kwetu Apia na ku Arkipus, omurwe wapamwe na eṱe.
3 Ndjambi Tate na Muhona Jesus Kristus nge mu pe otjari nohange.
Ongamburiro norusuvero rwa Filemon
4 Mukwetu Filemon, aruhe tji me kumbu mbi ripura na ove nu mbi tja okuhepa ku Ndjambi. 5 Orondu mba zuva orusuvero ndu u na rwo kotjiwaṋa tja Ndjambi atjihe, nongamburiro ndji u na yo mu Muhona Jesus. 6 Ongumbiro yandje oyokutja oruwano ndu tu na rwo na ove otja ovakambure ru eṱe ounongo wokutjiwa oviṋa avihe oviwa mbi matu sora okutjitira Kristus. 7 Orusuvero rwoye, mukwetu omusuverwa, rwe ndji pa ondjoroka onene nokundjiyanḓiparisa! Ove wa tarareka omitima vyotjiwaṋa atjihe tja Ndjambi.
Paulus me riyarikaṋa ku Onesimus
8 Ami opu mba zokukara nouvara, otja ngu mbi ri omukweṋu mu Kristus, okukurakiza kutja u tjite imbi mbi u sokutjita. 9 Nungwari mena rokutja mbe ku suvera me riyarikaṋa kove. Ami, Paulus, ngu mbi ri omurumendu omunene, nu nambano wina ngu mbi ri omupandekwa wa Kristus Jesus, 10 me riyarikaṋene Onesimus kove. Imwi motjovakamburwa eye wa rira omuatje wandje. 11 Rukuru eye ka ri omunanḓengu kove, nungwari nambano wa rira omunanḓengu tjinene ku eṱe atuyevari.
12 Ami me mu yarura kove nambano, nomutima wandje mau kayenda pamwe na ye. 13 Ami etje vanga kutja a kare pu ami, kokutja eye a yenene okundjivatera moruveze rwoye, ngunda ambi ri motjovakamburwa motjimbe tjOmbuze Ombwa. 14 Nungwari ami hi nokuvanga okutjita nai nokuhinomaitaverero woye, kokutja ihi tji mo tjiti o ha ṋiṋikizirwa ko, nungwari u tjite nombango yoye omuini.
15 Ngahino Onesimus opa zira po pove oruveze orusupi, kokutja, tja kotoka, a karerere pove nga aruhe. 16 Eye nambano omunanḓengu tjinene kove okukapita omukarere, okutja omukwetu omusuverwa mu Kristus, nu tjinene ku ami, nungwari tjinene komeho ma rire omunanḓengu kove otja omundu notja omukweṋu mu Muhona!
17 Nu tji u ndji vara otja owapamwe na ove, mu yakura otja tjotjo yakura ami omuini. 18 Nu tje ku tjita ouhasemba kaaṋi poo tje nondjo yoye yorive, i tjanga kena randje. 19 Ami, Paulus, me tjanga hi neke randje omuini: “Me sutu.” Ami hi nokuhepa okukuzemburukisa kutja ihi ove tji u ri, tja za mu ami. 20 Ii, mukwetu, mena ra Muhona ndji tjitira ouwa mbwi; tarareka omutima wandje otja omukwetu mu Kristus!
21 Ami me tjiwa, tjiri, otja tji me tjanga nai, kutja ihi tji me ku ningire ove mo tjiti. Nu tjinene wina me tjiwa kutja mo tjiti ovingi komeho yaimbi mbi me ku ningire. 22 Nu rukwao ndji ṱunina etuwo mu me yokukara, ami tjinga ame undju kutja Ndjambi ma zuvire ozongumbiro zeṋu amuhe, ne ndji kotora ku eṋe.
Ozombinika
23 Epafras, ngu ri puna ami motjovakamburwa mena ra Kristus Jesus, me ku minike. 24 Nu Markus na Aristarkus na Demas na Lukas, ovaungure vapamwe na ami, wina mave ku minike.
25 Otjari tja Muhona wetu Jesus Kristus ngatji kare na eṋe amuhe.
