Lettera a Filemone 1

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Paulus vinctus Christi Iesu et Timotheus frater Philemoni dilecto et adiutorinostro	1 From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus and from our brother Timothy; to our dear fel ow workerPhilemon,
2 et Apphiae sorori et Archippo commilitoni nostro et ecclesiae, quae indomo tua est:	2 our sister Apphia, our fellow soldier Archippus and the church that meets in your house.
3 gratia vobis et pax a Deo Patre nostro et Domino Iesu Christo.	3 Grace and the peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Gratias ago Deo meo semper memoriam tui faciens in orationibus meis,	4 I always thank my God, mentioning you in my prayers,
5 audienscaritatem tuam et fidem, quam habes in Dominum Iesum et in omnes sanctos,	5 because I hear of the love and the faith which you have for the Lord Jesus and for al God's holypeople.
6 utcommunio fidei tuae evidens fiat in agnitione omnis boni, quod est in nobis inChristum;	6 I pray that your fel owship in faith may come to expression in ful knowledge of all the good we can dofor Christ.
7 gaudium enim magnum habui et consolationem in caritate tua, quiaviscera sanctorum requieverunt per te, frater.	7 I have received much joy and encouragement by your love; you have set the hearts of God's holypeople at rest.
8 Propter quod multam fiduciam habens in Christo imperandi tibi, quod ad rempertinet,	8 Therefore, although in Christ I have no hesitations about telling you what your duty is,
9 propter caritatem magis obsecro, cum sim talis ut Paulus senex, nuncautem et vinctus Christi Iesu;	9 I am rather appealing to your love, being what I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner ofChrist Jesus.
10 obsecro te de meo filio, quem genui invinculis, Onesimo,	10 I am appealing to you for a child of mine, whose father I became while wearing these chains: I meanOnesimus.
11 qui tibi aliquando inutilis fuit, nunc autem et tibi etmihi utilis,	11 He was of no use to you before, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12 quem remisi tibi: eum, hoc est viscera mea;	12 I am sending him back to you -- that is to say, sending you my own heart.
13 quem ego voluerammecum detinere, ut pro te mihi ministraret in vinculis evangelii.	13 I should have liked to keep him with me; he could have been a substitute for you, to help me while Iam in the chains that the gospel has brought me.
14 Sine consilio autem tuo nihil volui facere, uti ne velut ex necessitate bonumtuum esset sed voluntarium.	14 However, I did not want to do anything without your consent; it would have been forcing your act ofkindness, which should be spontaneous.
15 Forsitan enim ideo discessit ad horam, utaeternum illum reciperes,	15 I suppose you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, merely so that you could have him backfor ever,
16 iam non ut servum sed plus servo, carissimumfratrem, maxime mihi, quanto autem magis tibi et in carne et in Domino.	16 no longer as a slave, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especial y dear to me,but how much more to you, both on the natural plane and in the Lord.
17 Si ergo habes me socium, suscipe illum sicut me.	17 So if you grant me any fel owship with yourself, welcome him as you would me;
18 Si autem aliquid nocuittibi aut debet, hoc mihi imputa.	18 if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, put it down to my account.
19 Ego Paulus scripsi mea manu, ego reddam; utnon dicam tibi quod et teipsum mihi debes.	19 I am writing this in my own hand: I, Paul, shal pay it back -- I make no mention of a further debt, thatyou owe your very self to me!
20 Ita, frater! Ego te fruar inDomino; refice viscera mea in Christo!	20 Wel then, brother, I am counting on you, in the Lord; set my heart at rest, in Christ.
21 Confidens oboedientia tua scripsi tibi, sciens quoniam et super id, quoddico, facies.	21 I am writing with complete confidence in your compliance, sure that you wil do even more than I ask.
22 Simul autem et para mihi hospitium, nam spero per orationesvestras donari me vobis.	22 There is another thing: wil you get a place ready for me to stay in? I am hoping through your prayersto be restored to you.
23 Salutat te Epaphras, concaptivus meus in Christo Iesu,	23 Epaphras, a prisoner with me in Christ Jesus, sends his greetings;
24 Marcus,Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, adiutores mei.	24 so do my fellow-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke.
25 Gratia Domini Iesu Christi cum spiritu vestro.	25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.