1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy [our] brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker
2 And to [our] beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 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,
4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,
5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints,
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,
9 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.
9 yet for loves sake I prefer to appeal to you -- I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus --
10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment.
11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel;
14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
15 Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever,
16 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?
16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth [thee] ought, put that on mine account;
18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
19 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.
19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it -- to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.
20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted to you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen. <<[Written>>
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.