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 fellow worker,

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

to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your 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 you in my prayers,

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

hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have 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 your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

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 much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

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

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

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 beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

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

I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,

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

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

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

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own 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 desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

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 was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would 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 separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,

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 slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

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

If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

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

But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that 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, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your 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.

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

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 your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will 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.

Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

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

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

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

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and 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.