Philemon

Thomson^{(i) 1} Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Jesus Christ, and Timothy, the brother, to Philemon our beloved, and fellow labourer, ² and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the congregation in thy house; ³ favour be 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, ⁵ hearing of the faith which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, of thy love for all the saints, ⁶ so that every good man among you must acknowledge that thy participation of the faith is operative for Christ Jesus. [Or literally, "that thy participation of the faith may, in the acknowledgment of every good man among you, be operative for Christ Jesus."] ⁷ For we have great joy and comfort for this love of thine, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. ⁸ Wherefore though I have much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fit; ⁹ yet on account of this love I rather use entreaty. Being such as I am, Paul an old man, and now indeed a prisoner on account of Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ I entreat thee in respect to this son of mine whom I have begotten in my bonds; namely, Onesimus, ¹¹ who was formerly unprofitable to thee; but is now profitable both to thee and me ¹² whom I have sent back; do thou then receive him kindly, that is, as one whom I tenderly love, ¹³ whom I was determining to keep with me that for thee he might wait on me during my being in bonds for the glad tidings; ¹⁴ but I would not do any thing without thy consent, that the benefit derived from thee might not be as it were forced, but of free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps he was separated from thee for a short time for this very purpose, that thou mightest have him ever after, ¹⁶ not as a slave, but above a slave, as a brother beloved in a special manner by me, [and how much more ought he to be by thee] both in flesh, and in the Lord. ¹⁷ If therefore thou esteemest me as a companion, receive him as thou wouldst myself. ¹⁸ And if he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee any thing, place it to my account. ¹⁹ I Paul myself have written with my own hand. I will make compensation. Not to mention to thee that thou owest me even thine own self. ²⁰ I beseech thee, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: gratify my tender affections in the Lord. ²¹ I have written to thee in a confidence of thy compliance, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I express. ²² In the mean while prepare a lodging for me, for I hope that, by means of your prayers, I shall be granted to you. ²³ Epaphras my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, ²⁴ Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow labourers, salute thee. ²⁵ The favour of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.