1 P aul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 a nd to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

3 G race to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

5 h earing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

6 t hat the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.

that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 F or I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

8 W herefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

9 y et for love's sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:

yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 w ho once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 w hom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:

whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 w hom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 b ut without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 F or perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 n o longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 I f then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 B ut if he hath wronged the at all, or oweth thee aught, put that to mine account;

If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

19 I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.

I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

20 Y ea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21 H aving confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.

Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 B ut withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

23 E paphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 a nd so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

25 T he grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.