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

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

2 A nd to our beloved sister, Apphia, and Archippus, our fellowsoldier and to the congregation in thy 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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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

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

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

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

6 t hat the communication of thy faith may become effectual for the knowledge of all the good that is in you by Christ Jesus.

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 joy and consolation in thy charity because the bowels of the saints have been 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 ¶ Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command thee that which is expedient,

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

9 y et for the sake of charity I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged and now also a 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 beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,

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

11 w ho in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now is profitable to thee and to me,

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

12 w hom I send again unto thee; therefore, receive him, as you would receive me.

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

13 I desired to retain him with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel,

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 did not want to do anything without thy counsel, that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

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

15 P erhaps for this, he departed from you for a season, that thou should have him again forever,

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

16 n ot now as a slave, but above a slave, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the 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 thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

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

18 I f he has wronged thee or owes thee anything, put that on my account;

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

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

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 T herefore, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord, that thou might refresh my heart in the Lord.

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

21 H aving confidence in thy obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

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

22 I n the same manner prepare me also a lodging; for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

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

23 E paphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes thee.

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

24 M arcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

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

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.