¹ Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker; ² and to the sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly at thy house. ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ thank my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers, ⁵ hearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and unto all the saints, ⁶ so that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us Christ-ward. ⁷ For I had much joy and encouragement on occasion of thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

⁸ Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting, ⁹ for love's sake I rather entreat, being such as Paul aged, and now prisoner also of Christ Jesus. ¹⁰ I entreat thee for my child, whom I begot in my bonds, Onesimus, ¹¹ that [was] aforetime unprofitable to thee, but now profitable to thee and to me, ¹² whom I send back to thee in person, that is mine own bowels; ¹³ whom I was minded to keep for myself that on thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the gospel. ¹⁴ But apart from thy mind I was not willing to do anything, that thy good might not be of necessity but of willingness. ¹⁵ For perhaps for this reason he was parted for a time, that thou mightest have him fully for ever, 10no longer as a bondman but above a bondman, a brother beloved, most highly to me, but how much more to thee both in flesh and in [the] Lord ! ¹⁷ If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself; ¹⁸ but if he wronged thee or is indebted, put this to mine account. ¹⁹ I Paul write with mine own hand, I will repay ; that I say not to thee that thou dost also owe me thine own self besides. ²⁰ Yea, brother, I would have profit of thee in [the] Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ.

²¹ Being confident of thine obedience, I write to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say. ²² But withal prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. ²³ Epaphras my fellow- prisoner in Christ Jesus saluteth thee; ²⁴ Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers. ²⁵The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit.