4 I thank my God, always remembering thee in my prayers,

5 hearing of thy love and faith which thou hast for the Lord Jesus, and for all the saints,

6 that the fellowship of thy faith may be effectual in the knowledge of all good things among us for Christ.

7 For I have received great joy and comfort from your love, because thanks to you, brother, the hearts of the saints are at rest.

8 Wherefore, having great boldness in Christ to prescribe unto thee thy duty,

9 Out of love I rather beseech — none other than I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus, —

10 I beseech thee for my son, whom I bore in bonds, for Onesimus,

11 Who was once unfit for thee, but now fit for me and for thee,

12 whom I send back to you, himself, and he is my heart.

13 Him I would keep with me, that he might serve me in the bonds of the gospel in your stead,

14 But without thy consent I would do nothing, that thy good should not be as out of need, but of its own free will.

15 For perhaps he was set apart for a time, that thou mayest receive him for ever,

16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me, how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 Therefore, if you have fellowship with me, receive him as me.

18 But if he has wronged thee in any way, or ought thee, count it for me;

19 I, Paul, write with my own hand, I will make restitution; so as not to tell you that you owe me for yourself.

20 Yes, brother, that I might rejoice in thee in the Lord: give my heart rest in Christ.

21 Confident of thy obedience, I write unto thee, knowing that thou shalt do, and more than what I say.

22 And at the same time prepare a room for me: for I hope that according to your prayers I will be granted to you.

23 Epaphras greets thee, a prisoner with me in Christ Jesus,

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.