Philemon 1:11-16
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 1
11who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my imprisonment for the gospel; 14but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will. 15For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.King James Version
Chapter 1
11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 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?Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 1
11Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12I am sending him back to you—I am sending my very own heart. 13I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.New Living Translation
Chapter 1
11Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.
13I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf.
14But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.
15It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.
16He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
English Standard Version
Chapter 1
11(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother — especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.New International Version
12I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.
13I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.
14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—
16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
New King James Version
12I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
14But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.
