1 P aul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon the beloved and our fellow-workman,

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

2 a nd to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which in thine house.

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

3 G race to you and peace from God our Father, and 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 at my prayers,

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

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

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

6 i n such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ.

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

7 F or we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

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

8 W herefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting,

Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

9 f or love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ.

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

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

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

11 o nce unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me:

who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

12 w hom I have sent back to thee: him, that is, my bowels:

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

13 w hom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings;

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

14 b ut I have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness:

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

15 f or perhaps for this reason he has been separated for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully for ever;

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

16 n ot any longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, specially to me, and how much rather to thee, both in flesh and in Lord?

no 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.

17 I f therefore thou holdest me to be a partner, receive him as me;

If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.

18 b ut if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything, put this to my account.

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

19 I Paul have written with mine own hand; I will repay: that I say not to thee that thou owest even thine own self also to me.

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.

20 Y ea, brother, I would have profit of thee in Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ.

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

21 B eing confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say.

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

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

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

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

Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;

24 M ark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen.

and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.