| 1 | Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear helper in the faith, |
| 2 | And to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus, our brother in God's army, and to the church in your house: |
| 3 | Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 4 | I give praise to God at all times and make prayer for you, |
| 5 | Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints; |
| 6 | That the faith which you have in common with them may be working with power, in the knowledge of every good thing in you, for Christ. |
| 7 | For I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been made strong again through you, brother. |
| 8 | And so, though I might, in the name of Christ, give you orders to do what is right, |
| 9 | Still, because of love, in place of an order, I make a request to you, I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus: |
| 10 | My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains, |
| 11 | Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me: |
| 12 | Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart: |
| 13 | Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place: |
| 14 | But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart. |
| 15 | For it is possible that for this reason he was parted from you for a time, so that you might have him for ever; |
| 16 | No longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother, very dear to me specially, but much more to you, in the flesh as well as in the Lord. |
| 17 | If then you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself. |
| 18 | If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account. |
| 19 | I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life. |
| 20 | So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ. |
| 21 | Being certain that you will do my desire, I am writing to you, in the knowledge that you will do even more than I say. |
| 22 | And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you. |
| 23 | Epaphras, my brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love; |
| 24 | And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my brother-workers. |
| 25 | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. So be it. |