Philemon 1 – NIV & CCL

New International Version

Philemon 1:1-25

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3Grace and peace to you1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular. from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

8Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,1:10 Onesimus means useful. who became my son while I was in chains. 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

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

Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero

Filemoni 1:1-25

1Kuchokera kwa Paulo, amene ndili mʼndende chifukwa cha Khristu Yesu ndi Timoteyo mʼbale wathu.

Kulembera Filemoni, bwenzi lathu lokondedwa ndi mtumiki mnzathu. 2Kwa Apiya mlongo wathu, Arkipo msilikali mnzathu, ndiponso mpingo umene umasonkhana mʼnyumba mwanu.

3Chisomo ndi mtendere zochokera kwa Mulungu Atate athu ndi Ambuye Yesu Khristu zikhale ndi inu.

Kuyamika ndi Pemphero

4Ine ndimayamika Mulungu wanga nthawi zonse ndikakukumbukira iwe mʼmapemphero anga. 5Pakuti ndamva za chikondi chako, za chikhulupiriro chako mwa Ambuye Yesu ndiponso za chikondi chako pa oyera mtima onse. 6Ine ndikupemphera kuti mgwirizano wako ndi ife mʼchikhulupiriro ukhale opindulitsa pozamitsa nzeru zako zozindikira zinthu zilizonse zabwino zimene timagawana chifukwa cha Khristu. 7Mʼbale, chikondi chako chandipatsa chimwemwe chachikulu ndi chilimbikitso, chifukwa umatsitsimutsa mitima ya anthu a Ambuye.

Paulo Apempha kuti Amuchitire Chifundo Onesimo

8Tsopano ngakhale kuti mwa Khristu nditha kulimba mtima ndi kulamulira kuti uchite zimene uyenera kuchita, 9komabe ndikupempha mwachikondi. Ine Paulo, munthu wokalamba, ndipo tsopano ndili mʼndende chifukwa cha Khristu Yesu, 10ndikukupempha chifukwa cha mwana wanga Onesimo, amene ndamubala ndili mu unyolo. 11Anali wopanda phindu kwa iwe, koma tsopano wasanduka wa phindu kwa iwe ndi kwa inenso.

12Ine ndikumutumizanso kwa iwe tsopano, koma potero ndikukhala ngati ndikutumiza mtima wanga weniweni. 13Ndikanakonda ndikanakhala naye kuno kuti iyeyo azinditumikira mʼmalo mwako pamene ndili mu unyolo chifukwa cha Uthenga Wabwino. 14Koma sindikufuna kuchita kanthu osakufunsa, nʼcholinga chakuti chilichonse chabwino ungandichitire chikhale mwakufuna kwako osati mokakamiza. 15Mwina chifukwa chimene unasiyana naye kwa kanthawi ndi chakuti ukhale nayenso nthawi zonse. 16Osati ngati kapolo, koma woposa kapolo, ngati mʼbale wokondedwa. Iyeyu ndi wokondedwa kwambiri kwa ine koma kwa iweyo ndi wokondedwa koposa, ngati munthu komanso ngati mʼbale mwa Ambuye.

17Tsono ngati umati ndine mnzako, umulandire iyeyu monga momwe ukanandilandirira ineyo. 18Ngati anakulakwira kapena kukongola kanthu kalikonse, ndidzalipira ineyo. 19Ine, Paulo ndikulemba zimenezi ndi dzanja langa. Ine ndidzalipira. Nʼkosafunika kukukumbutsa kuti iweyo ngongole yako kwa ine ndi moyo wakowo. 20Mʼbale, ndikufuna kuti ndipindule nawe mwa Ambuye; tsono tsitsimutsa mtima wanga mwa Khristu. 21Ine ndili ndi chitsimikizo cha kumvera kwako pamene ndikukulembera kalatayi. Ndikulemba ndikudziwa kuti udzachita ngakhale kuposa zimene ndakupemphazi.

22Chinthu chinanso ndi ichi: undikonzere malo, chifukwa ndikukhulupirira kuti Mulungu adzamvera mapemphero anu ndi kundibwezera kwa inu.

Mawu Otsiriza

23Epafra, wamʼndende mnzanga chifukwa cha Khristu Yesu akupereka moni. 24Atumiki anzanga awa, Marko, Aristariko, Dema ndi Luka, akuperekanso moni.

25Chisomo cha Ambuye Yesu Khristu chikhale ndi mzimu wako.