¶ Paul, a¹ prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy⁴ our brother, unto Philemon⁵ our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus⁷ our fellowsoldier⁸, and to the church⁹ in thy house:

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

¹¹I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

Hearing¹² of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord¹³ Jesus, and toward all saints;

That the communication¹⁴ of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging¹⁵ of every good thing which is in you¹⁶ in Christ Jesus.

For we have great joy¹⁷ and consolation in thy love, because the bowels¹⁸ of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

¶ Wherefore, though I might be much bold¹⁹ in Christ to enjoin²⁰ thee that which is convenient,

Yet for love's sake²¹ I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul²² the aged, and now also a prisoner²³ of Jesus Christ.

¶ I beseech thee for my son²⁴ Onesimus²⁵, whom²⁶ I have begotten in my bonds:

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable²⁷, but now profitable²⁸ to thee and to me:

Whom I have sent again: thou²⁹ therefore receive him, that is, mine³⁰ own bowels:

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead³¹ he might have ministered unto me in the bonds³² of the gospel:

But without³³ thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit³⁴ should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

³⁵For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother³⁶ beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in³⁷ the flesh, and in the Lord?

If thou count³⁸ me therefore a partner, receive³⁹ him as myself.

If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that⁴⁰ on mine account;

I Paul⁴¹ have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou⁴² owest unto me even thine own self besides.

¶ Yea, brother, let me⁴³ have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh⁴⁴ my bowels in the Lord.

⁴⁵Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

But withal prepare⁴⁶ me also a lodging: for I trust⁴⁷ that through⁴⁸ your prayers I shall be given unto you.

There salute thee Epaphras⁴⁹, my fellowprisoner⁵⁰ in Christ Jesus;

Marcus⁵¹, Aristarchus⁵², Demas⁵³, Lucas⁵⁴, my fellowlabourers⁵⁵.

The grace⁵⁶ of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit⁵⁷. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.]