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!
I.
1 Pōvuls, Jezus Kristus cītumnīks un brōļs Timotejs myusu nūmiļōtajam leidzstrōdnīkam Filemonam, 2 (nūmīļōtajai) mōsai Apijai, myusu ceiņas bīdram Archipam un draudzei tovā mōjā.
3 Žēlesteiba jums un mīrs nu Dīva myusu Tāva un nu Kunga Jezus Kristus.
4 Es pasateicu sovam Dīvam ikreizes, kai tik es par tevi īgōdoju sovōs lyugšonōs, 5 jo es dzēržu par tū ticeibu un mīlesteibu, kura tev ir uz Kungu Jezu un uz visim svātajim.
6 Lai tova ticeiba, kas tev ar mums ir kūpeja tevi nūvad pi eistōs vysu tūs lobumu atziņas, kas mums ir ikš Jezus Kristus. 7 Par tovu mīlesteibu man beja lels prīks un apmīrynōjums, jo caur tevi, brōļ, svātūs sirdis sasnēdze atspērdzynōjumu. 8 Tōpēc es, lai gon man ikš (Jezus) Kristus byutu piļneiga tīseiba pavēlēt tū, kas pīnōkās, 9 tūmār tovas mīlesteibas dēļ es tevis lyudzu; tai kai es Pōvuls, vacs cylvāks un tagad vēļ Jezus Kristus cītumnīks, 10 es tevis lyudzu par sovu dālu Onezimu, kuram es važōs byudams īdevu dzeivi. 11 Agrōk jys tev beja nalīteigs, bet tagad tev un man ir nūdereigs. 12 Es jū syutu pi tevis atpakaļ; pījem jū kai munu sirdi. 13 Es jū labprōt byutu paturējis pi sevis, ka jys munas Evangelija dēļ apcītynōšonas laikā tovā vītā ryupātūs par mani, 14 tūmār bez tovas pīkrisšonas es nagribēju tō dareit, lai tova labsirdeiba nabyutu vērdzyska, bet gon labprōteiga. 15 Varbyut jys uz laika nu tevis atsaškeire tōdēļ, lai tu jū sajimtu myužam, 16 un vairs na kai vērgu, bet gon, vērga vītā, kai nūmīļōtū brōli; par taidu jys lelā mārā ir man, bet tū vairōk tev, kam jys kai mīseigi, tai arī ikš Kristus pīdar. 17 Jo tevi ar mani saista draudzeibas saitas, tad pījem jū kai mani pošu.
18 Jo jys tev nūdareja zaudējumus, vai arī ir kū porōdā, tad tū pīskaiti man. 19 Es, Pōvuls, rokstu pašrūceigi: Es tū samoksōšu. Es nagrybu pavysam runōt par tū, ka tu man pats sevi esi porōdā. 20 Jā, brōļ, es grybātu tevi ikš Kristus izmontōt; atspērdzynoj ikš Kristus munu sirdi.
21 Pasaļaudams uz tovas gataveibas pakolpōt, es tev rokstu, un zynu, ka tu padareisi vairōk, na kai es soku. 22 Sagatavoj arī dēļ manis nūmetni, jo es ceru, ka jyusu lyugšonu dēļ jums mani dōvynōs atpakaļ. 23 Tevi sveicynoj Epafrass, muns ikš Jezus Kristus leidz cītumnīks, 24 arī muni leidzstrōdnīki: Marks, Aristarchs, Demass un Lukass.
25 Myusu Kunga Jezus Kristus žēlesteiba lai ir ar jyusu goru! (Amen).
