Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
Yo estoy aquí en la cárcel porque predicaba y anunciaba el evangelio y tú no puedes venir a ayudarme, entonces en tu lugar, mejor que Onésimo me ayude y apoye.
Yo quisiera que se quide aqui y sea útil, pero yo no puedo (decidirlo), porque tú no me has dado ningun permiso y por eso Onésimo regresa a tí para que estén juntos.
Yo no quiero insistir, sólo quiero que sea (tu decisión) voluntaria, porque Onésimo se fue y ahora, después de un tiempo, van a estar juntos otra vez para siempre.
No continues a tenerlo como esclavo, pero sean como hermanos cariñosos. Yo tengo mucho cariño para Onésimo, pero como ustedes han estado juntos mucho, tú tienes más cariño para él.
I am here in prison because I preached the gospel, and you cannot come to help me, so Onesimus can help and support me on your behalf.
I would like him to stay here and be useful, but I cannot (make that decision) because you haven’t given me any permission, and because of that Onesimus returns to be together with you.
I don’t want to insist, I want it to be a voluntary (decision), because Onesimus left you and now, after some time has passed, you are going to be together again forever.
He shouldn’t continue as your slave, you should be together as dear brothers. I love Onesimus, but as you have been together a lot, you have even more love for him.
Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:14:
Uma: “But I do/did not want to keep him here if we have not yet agreed. My desire is that what you do, you do from your own heart, not just because I force you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “But I do not want to force you to help me. I want that you help me from your wish/your own will. Therefore I don’t do anything if you don’t agree/are pleased with it.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, I will not yet do this before you permit it. I will not force you to pity me. For what is good is: your doing this should come from a bright breath.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “But I decided that it wouldn’t be right if I did that because here you (sing.) haven’t yet had opportunity to give-permission. For I don’t want you (sing.) to be forced to do what is good but rather it should come-from your (sing.) own mind.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “But I will not do like that unless you really are the origin. I want your help to be really voluntary, not just being forced.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “But I am not keeping him because I do not want to force you to help me. If you want to help me, that desire which comes to your heart must be what is done.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
The following is a translation for a performance of the book of Philemon in Papiamento and its English translation. The translation is interspersed with a provocative fictional response by the historical character of Tula, the Curaçaoan revolt leader of 1795, juxtaposing the subtle liberating message of Paul with a revolutionary approach. This is followed by a video showing the performance:
1 Esaki ta karta
1 This is [a] letter
di Pablo,
from Paul,
i di ruman Timoteo,
From sibling Timothy
Pablo prezu pa kousa di Kristu-Hesus;
Paul imprisoned for the cause of Christ-Jesus
ta pa Filemon, kompañer’i trabou,
it is for Philemon, fellow of work
2 ta pa Iglesia, reuní na su kas.
2 It is for the church, gathered at his house
Karta tambe pa Apfia, nos ruman muhé,
Letter also to Apphia, our sibling female
Karta tambe pa Argipo, kompañer’i lucha.
Letter also for Archippus fellow of fight
Click or tap here to see the rest of this translation as well as the video performance
3 Dios nos Tata, duna boso
3 God the Father give you
Señor Hesu-Kristu duna boso
Lord Jesus-Christ give you
grasia i pas.
grace and peace
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Lesa mi ta lesa den karta sagrado
Read I do read in holy letter
Ta ku masha kachèt mester kumindá bo
(that) with lots of respect you have to be greeted
Pa kombensébo ku hende ta util
(so as to) convince you that (a) human being is useful
Hende ta mas k’util.
(A) Human being is more than useful
4 Mi Dios mi ta gradisí,
4 My God I do thank
Ora mi kòrdabo den mi orashon,
When I remember you in my prayer
5 pasobra hopi fe den Señor Hesus bo tin
because lots of faith in (the) Lord Jesus you have
Segun mi a tende,
From what I hear
Stimashon pa Dios su pueblo bo tin.
Love for God his people you have.
6 Mi ta resa, pa e fe
I pray for the faith
ku bo ta kompartí ku otro kreyente,
that you share with other believers,
hiba na komprondementu berdadero di tur kos bon
lead to understanding true of all good things
ku pa Kristu nos por hasi.
that for Christ we can do
7 Mi ruman, bo amor
7 My sibling, your love
a hasi mi mashá kontentu
has made me very happy
kurashá mi hopi,
encouraged me a lot
pasobra el a sirbi pa animá kurason di e rumannan.
Because he has to animate (the) heart of the siblings.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Ta trasta mester trasta ku bo
Flatter has to flatter you
Hunta stropi na bo boka
Put honey at your mouth
Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal robes
So as to say that you are badly wrong
Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal brua
So as to say that you are badly confused
8 P’esei derecho mi tin di bisa bo kiko hasi,
8 That is why with what right I have to tell you what to do,
Ora mi apelá na Kristu.
When I appeal to Christ.
9 Tòg a base di amor,
9 Though on (the) basis of love,
un petishon mi ta preferá hasi na bo.
A petition I prefer to do to you.
Ami, Pablo un hòmber bieu kaba,
I, Paul a man old already
asta prezu awor pa kousa di Kristu
even imprisoned now for (the) cause of Christ
10 Mi ke pidi bo pa mi yu Onésimo;
10 I want to ask you for my son Onesimus;
ta den prisón mi a bira su tata spiritual.
it is in prison that I have become his spiritual father.
11 Un tempu e no tabata sirbi bo pa nada,
11 A time he was not useful for anything
pero awor el a bira útil pa nos tur dos,
but now he has become useful to two of us,
manera su nòmber mes ta nifiká.
just as his name means.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Pachi7 Pablo pone preshon
Old man Paul put pressure
Pachi Pablo no papia ko’I kèns
Old man Paul do not speak foolishness
Ku trabou’i katibu n’ ta bal nada
(to say) that work of slave is not worth anything
Ku mi t’ei djis pa ta “util.”
That I am (exist) just to be “useful”
12 Mi ta mand’é bèk pa bo;
12 I am sending him back to you
ta manera mi kurason mes
as if my heart itself
mi ta ranka saka manda pa bo!
I rip out and send to you!
13 Gana di ten’é serka mi, mi tin
13 Desire to have him with me, I have
pa e por a yuda mi na bo lugá,
so that he can help me in your place
tanten mi ta prezu pa kousa di e bon notisia.
while I am imprisoned for the cause of the good news.
14 Sinembargo mi no ke hasi nada sin bo aprobashon,
14 Although I do not want to do anything without your approval
pa bo no haña bo ta hasi un bondat fòrsá,
so you will not find yourself doing a good, forced,
ma dje manera akí bo por hasié di bo mes boluntat.
but in this way you can do it from your own will.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Ai malai ai malai ei
(lamentation sound)
Ai malai ai malai ei
(lamentation sound)
Si bo tabata konosé doló di katibu
If you do not know (the) pain of slave(s)
Pablito lo bo no a saka bo shiri shiri,
(Dear) Paul (diminutive)
you would not have to take out your guts,
Bo yu sin doló, mand’é bèk.
your child-without-pain to send him back.
15 Por ta mashá bon:
15 Could be very well:
pa un tempu el a alehá for di bo,
For a time he has gone away from you,
djis pa bo hañ’é bèk pa semper.
Just so you can find him back for ever.
16 Pasobra awor e no ta djis un simpel katibu:
16 Because now he is not just a simple slave:
mas ku un katibu e ta un ruman stimá.
More than a slave he is a beloved sibling.
Anto spesialmente pa mi, e ta mashá stimá!
And especially for me, he is very well loved.
Pero pa abo: mas stimá ainda, komo katibu i komo ruman den Señor.
And for you more: more loved, as a slave/servant and as sibling in (the) Lord.
17 Ke men si bo tin mi pa kompañero,
17 That is to say if you have me for (a) collaborator,
risibí Onésimo manera lo bo a risibí mi mes.
receive Onesimus as you would have received me.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Di Adam ku Eva nos ta bini.
From Adam and Eva we come
Boso Buki mes ta bisa.
Your Book itself says it
Si nos tur ta bin di tera,
If we all can come from the earth
T’un lokura abusá di esun
It is a madness to abuse
ku ta puluwé den tera.
the one who plows the earth.
18 Si el a perhudiká bo den ki forma ku ta
18 If he has damaged you in whatever manner
òf si e ta debe bo algu,
or if he owes you something
laga esei pa mi kuenta.
leave that for to my account.
19 Awor mi mes man ta skibi esaki:
19 Now my own hand writes this:
‘Ami, Pablo, ta paga bo bèk!’
“I, Paul, will pay you back!”
Mi n’ tin nodi’ kòrda bo ku bo debe serka mi ta bo mes!
There is no need for me to remind me that your debt with me is yourself!
20 Sí, mi ruman, hasi mi e fabor akí pa Señor;
20 Yes, my sibling, do this favor for me for (the) Lord;
animá mi kurason komo ruman den Kristu!
animate my heart as sibling in Christ!
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
In an attempt to make the flow of thought easier to assimilate, Good News Translation has restructured considerably the contents of the verse; Revised Standard Version follows closely the form of the Greek.
To force you (Good News Translation) represents the Greek kata anagkēn (which in Revised Standard Version appears as “by compulsion”). The word represents the outward pressure or force that is laid on someone, under which he is forced to act in a certain way. “Under duress” would be a modern equivalent of the phrase. I do not want to force you to help me may be expressed as “I do not want you to help me because you think you must do so” or “… because I make you help me.”
To help me represents the Greek “the good thing,” that is, the favor, the kindness, that Paul is requesting of Philemon.
Of your own free will represents the opposite of “compulsion.” Only here in the NT does the phrase occur; see the adverb hekousiōs in Heb 10.26; 1 Peter 5.2. Of your own free will may be rendered as “because you want to do so” or “because that is what you would like to do.”
You agree (Good News Translation) or “your consent” (Revised Standard Version) represents the Greek tēs sēs gnomēs. The noun means “idea, opinion,” and here it clearly means agreement, consent, permission. Paul will not act without Philemon’s approval. The double negative in the final sentence of verse 14 involving not … unless may be restructured as an affirmative, for example, “so I will only do what you agree I should do.”
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
What Paul meant in this verse was that he did not ask Onesimus to stay with him, since Philemon was not there to approve of it. If he had asked Onesimus to stay, this would have been like forcing Philemon to let Onesimus help Paul. Paul may have meant that he wanted Philemon to send Onesimus back later so he could help Paul while Paul was in prison. But Paul wanted Philemon to do this only if Philemon himself wanted to do it, not because Paul said he must do it.
anything: The word anything here means “anything (in this matter about Onesimus).” Paul would not keep Onesimus with him and would not ask Onesimus to come back (to Paul) unless Philemon approved.
without your consent: Other ways to express this are “unless you say OK” or “without you saying it is all right.” See Display for verse 14a.
14b
so that: This phrase introduces the reason why Paul said in 14a “I did not want to do anything without your consent.” The reason is in 14b: “if you agree to do what I ask, it will be because you yourself want to do it, not because I have said you must do it.”
your goodness: Another way to state this is “If you help me like this….”
goodness: Paul was referring here to something kind or helpful Philemon might do for him. See “ appeal” in verse 10.
not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will: If Philemon did a favor for Paul, Paul wanted it to be something Philemon himself decided to do, not something that Paul ordered him to do whether Philemon wanted to do it or not.
out of compulsion: When someone makes or compels you to do something, or forces you to some action.
by your own free will: This means “without someone telling you to do it.” To do it willingly because you want to do it.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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