^{1 Ref} Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear helper in the faith,

^{2 Ref} And to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus, our brother in God's army, and to the church in your house:

^{3 Ref} Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^{4 Ref} I give praise to God at all times and make prayer for you,

^{5 Ref} Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints;

^{6 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} And so, though I might, in the name of Christ, give you orders to do what is right,

^{9 Ref} 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 Ref} My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains,

^{11 Ref} Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:

^{12 Ref} Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:

^{13 Ref} Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place:

^{14 Ref} But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.

^{15 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} If then you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself.

^{18 Ref} If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account.

^{19 Ref} 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 Ref} So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.

^{21 Ref} 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 Ref} And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you.

^{23 Ref} Epaphras, my brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love;

^{24 Ref} And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my brother-workers.

^{25 Ref} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. So be it.

^{1 Ref} Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

^{2 Ref} to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

^{3 Ref} Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^{4 Ref} I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

^{5 Ref} hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

^{6 Ref} that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

^{7 Ref} For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

^{8 Ref} Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

^{9 Ref} yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

^{10 Ref} I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,{Onesimus means "useful."}

^{11 Ref} who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

^{12 Ref} I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

^{13 Ref} whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Gospel.

^{14 Ref} But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

^{15 Ref} For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,

^{16 Ref} 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 Ref} If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

^{18 Ref} But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

^{19 Ref} 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 Ref} Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

^{21 Ref} Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

^{22 Ref} Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

^{23 Ref} Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

^{24 Ref} as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

^{25 Ref} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.