| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, | 1From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer, |
| 2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: | 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. |
| 3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. | 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! |
| 4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, | 4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, |
| 5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; | 5because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. |
| 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. | 6I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ. |
| 7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. | 7I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. |
| 8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, | 8So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, |
| 9Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. | 9I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love--I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus-- |
| 10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: | 10I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, |
| 11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: | 11who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. |
| 12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: | 12I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. |
| 13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: | 13I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. |
| 14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. | 14However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. |
| 15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; | 15For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, |
| 16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? | 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. |
| 17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. | 17Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. |
| 18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; | 18Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me. |
| 19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. | 19I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self. |
| 20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. | 20Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. |
| 21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. | 21Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do. |
| 22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. | 22At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you. |
| 23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; | 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. |
| 24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. | 24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. |
| 25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. | 25May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
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