Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Yahushua the Messiah, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,

2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the assembly in thy house:

to my sister Apphia, to my fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church which meets at Philemon’s house. From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy.

3 Favour to you, and peace, from YHWH our Father and the Master Yahushua the Messiah.

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

4 I thank my Elohim, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,

5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Master Yahushua, and toward all saints;

because I am hearing of your love and of the faith which you hold, not only toward the Lord Jesus Christ, but toward all the saints.

6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in the Messiah Yahushua.

And I pray that your participation may become effectual, as you come to acknowledge every good thing which is in you to Christ.

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

For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.

8 Wherefore, though I might have much boldness in the Messiah to command you what is fitting,

And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,

9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Yahushua the Messiah.

yet for love’s sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the evangel:

I could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, in my bonds for the gospel.

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

But without your consent I was unwilling to do anything, so that your kindness to me might be of your own free will, and not of compulsion.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back forever, (aiōnios g166)

16 Not 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 Master?

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both as a man and a fellow Christian.

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

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

And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.

19 I 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.

I Paul am writing this in my own handwriting, "I will repay you." But I will not mention that you owe me, over and over, your very soul.

20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in YHWH: refresh my tender affections in YHWH.

Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!

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

Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedience, I have written you, knowing full well that you will do by me what I am asking.

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in the Messiah Yahushua;

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The favour of our Master Yahushua the Messiah be with your spirit.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.