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.
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).
