1 From Paul, who is in jail for serving Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is like a brother because of our faith.
Philemon, you work with us and are very dear to us. This letter is to you 2 and to the church that meets in your home. It is also to our dear friend Apphia and to Archippus, who serves the Lord as we do.
3 I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
Philemon's Love and Faith
4 Philemon, each time I mention you in my prayers, I thank God. 5 I hear about your faith in our Lord Jesus and about your love for all God's people. 6 As you share your faith with others, I pray they may come to know all the blessings Christ has given us. 7 My friend, your love has made me happy and has greatly encouraged me. It has also cheered the hearts of God's people.
Paul Speaks to Philemon about Onesimus
8 Christ gives me the courage to tell you what to do. 9 But I would rather ask you to do it simply because of love. Yes, as someone in jail for Christ, 10 I beg you to help Onesimus! He is like a son to me because I led him to Christ here in jail. 11 Before this, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12 Sending Onesimus back to you makes me very sad. 13 I would like to keep him here with me, where he could take your place in helping me while I am here in prison for preaching the good news. 14 But I won't do anything unless you agree to it first. I want your act of kindness to come from your heart, and not be something you feel forced to do.
15 Perhaps Onesimus was taken from you for a little while so you could have him back for good, 16 but not as a slave. Onesimus is much more than a slave. To me he is a dear friend, but to you he is even more, both as a person and as a follower of the Lord.
17 If you consider me a friend because of Christ, then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. 18 If he has cheated you or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19 With my own hand I write: I, PAUL, WILL PAY YOU BACK. But don't forget you owe me your life. 20 My dear friend and follower of Christ our Lord, please cheer me up by doing this for me.
21 I am sure you will do all I have asked, and even more. 22 Please get a room ready for me. I hope your prayers will be answered, and I can visit you.
23 Epaphras is also here in jail for being a follower of Christ Jesus. He sends his greetings, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who work together with me.
25 I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you!
Kontondiroo
1 Nte Pawulu meŋ keta bunjawutonkoo ti Kiristu* Yeesu la kuwo kamma la, n niŋ m̀ baadiŋo Timoti be ite, ǹ dookuuñoo Filemoni kontoŋ na, meŋ mu ǹ kanuntewo ti. 2 M̀ be m̀ baarimmusoo Apafiya kontoŋ na, m̀ mooñoo kelediŋo Arikipus, aniŋ Yeesu la kafoo meŋ ka beŋ ite, Filemoni yaa. 3 Hiinoo niŋ kayiroo be ali fee ka bo Alla bulu, m̀ Faamaa, aniŋ Maarii Yeesu Kiristu.
Tenturoo niŋ duwaa
4 N ka n na Alla tentu i la kuwo la le waati-wo-waati, niŋ n hakiloo bulata i la n na duwaa kono. 5 Ŋa i la kanoo moyi le, i ye meŋ soto Alla la moo senuŋolu bee ye, aniŋ i la lannoo Maarii Yeesu kono.
6 N ka tu duwaa la le, fo ǹ na kafuñooyaa lannoo kono si dookundi beteke, ka londoo soto feŋ betoo bee to, ŋà meŋ soto Kiristu kono. 7 M baadiŋo, i la kanoo keta seewoo kuu baa le ti n ye, aniŋ wakiilindiroo, kaatu i ye Alla la moo senuŋolu jusulandi le.
Daaniroo Onesimus la kuwo to
8 Wo kamma la, n si fatiyaa noo le Kiristu kono ka i yaamari kendeke ka kuwo ke, i ñanta meŋ ke la, 9 bari wo noo to, ŋa i daani le kanoo la kuwo kamma la. Nte Pawulu meŋ mu bunjawutonkoo ti Kiristu Yeesu la kuwo kamma la, n na keebaayaa kaŋ m be i daani la. 10 M be i daani kaŋ n na dindiŋo Onesimus le ye, n naata ke meŋ faamaa ti lannoo kono, n na taroo bunjawoo kono jaŋ. 11 Koomanto, a maŋ nafaa soto ite ye, bari saayiŋ, a ye nafaa baa le soto ite niŋ nte ye. 12 M be a kii kaŋ naŋ i kaŋ ne, ka muru i yaa, m be n jusukuŋo faŋo le kii kaŋ naŋ. 13 Ka a muta m fee jaŋ, ka loo n ye ite loodulaa to, wo be ke la n ye seewoo le ti, fo a si ke m maakoyilaa ti n na soroŋo wucoo kono kibaari betoo kamma la. 14 Bari m maŋ lafi ka kuu-wo-kuu ke, m maŋ i kalamutandi meŋ na, fo i la beteyaa kana ke diyaakuyaa kuwo ti i kaŋ, bari a si ke i faŋo la lafoo ti. 15 Tumandoo ñiŋ daliiloo le ye a tinna, a jamfata i la fo waatindiŋ, fo a si naa tara i fee fo abadaa. 16 A te tara la i fee kotenke ko joŋo, bari meŋ tambita wo la. A mu baadiŋ kanuntewo le ti, sako nte ye. Wo to, a be tambi la baake ite ye nte la le, kaatu i la joŋo le mu, aduŋ i baadiŋo le mu Maariyo kono.
17 Wo kamma la, niŋ i ye nte muta ko i kafuñoo, i si a jiyaa ko i be nte jiyaa la ñaameŋ. 18 Niŋ a ye kuu-wo-kuu ke i la, meŋ maŋ beteyaa, waraŋ a ye i donto feŋ-wo-feŋ na, a ke nte la kontoo to. 19 Nte Pawulu ye ñiŋ safee m faŋo buloo le la: M be i joo la le. M maŋ lafi ka i hakiloo bulandi ko, ite fanaa ye n donto, hani i faŋo la baluwo la le.
20 Tooñaa, m baadiŋo, n lafita nafaa doo la i bulu le Maariyo la kuwo kamma la. Dukaree, n jusulandi Kiristu kono. 21 Ŋa i safee dankeneyaa le kono ko, i be n na yaamaroo muta la le, aduŋ ŋa a loŋ ne ko, i be meŋ ke la, wo be hani tambi la le, ŋa meŋ fo i ye.
22 M be i daani la fanaa ka jiyaadulaa parendi n ye, kaatu n jikita le ko, ali la duwaalu kamma la, m be futa la ali ma naŋ jee le.
Kontondiri labaŋolu
23 Epafaras meŋ mu m mooñoo bunjawutonkoo ti Kiristu Yeesu kono, be i kontoŋ na. 24 N dookuuñoolu Maaka, Aristakus, Demas aniŋ Luka fanaa be i kontoŋ na.
25 Maarii Yeesu Kiristu la hiinoo ye tara ali fee.
