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

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

2 A nd to our beloved sister, Apphia, and Archippus, our fellowsoldier and to the congregation in thy house:

and to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which in thine 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 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 at 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 the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards 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.

in such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards 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 we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

8 ¶ Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command thee that which is expedient,

Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting,

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.

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

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

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

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

once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable 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: him, that is, my bowels:

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

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

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

for perhaps for this reason he has been separated for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully 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.

not 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?

17 I f thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

If therefore thou holdest me to be a partner, receive him as me;

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

but if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything, put this to my 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 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.

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

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

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

Being confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than 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 I shall be granted to you through your prayers.

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

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

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

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen.

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ with your spirit.