Philemon

Orthodox Jewish Bible

¹ Sha’ul, a prisoner of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua and Timotiyos acheinu [(our) brother]. To Philemon ha’ahuv (the beloved) and our fellow po’el (worker)

² And to Apphia achoteinu (our sister) and to Archippus our chaver leneshek (comrade arms) and to the Kehillah in your bais.

³ Chen v’Chesed Hashem and Shalom Hashem to you from Elohim Avinu and from Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua.

⁴ I always offer a bracha to my G-d when I mention you in my tefillos (prayers),

⁵ Because I hear of your ahavah (agapé) and emunah, which you have for Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua and for all the Kadoshim.

⁶ [I pray] that your emunah (faith) being shared in Moshiach’s kiruv rechokim (bringing near the far away ones) may become effective in the da’as of every mitzvah we may do for Moshiach.

⁷ For I had simcha gedolah (much joy) and chizzuk (encouragement) because of your ahavah, for the levavot of the Kadoshim have been refreshed through you, Ach b’Moshiach.

⁸ Therefore, though I have much boldness in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach that I could in fact order you to do your chovah musarit (moral duty) of avodas hakodesh (holy service),

⁹ Yet I would rather make an appeal on the mekor (basis) of ahavah (agapé)‖I, [Rav] Sha’ul, the Zaken (Elder) but also a prisoner of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.

¹⁰ I appeal to you concerning beni, having "fathered" him (to a new birth) while in bais hasohar (prison)‖that is, Onesimus (T.N. the slave boy Onesimus’ name means "Useful")

¹¹ The one once "Useless" to you, but, now, both to you and to me "Useful" (Onesimus).

¹² I am sending him who is my very lev (heart) back to you.

¹³ I was wanting to detain him with me, in order that he might function as a keli kodesh (minister), ministering to me in your place, as your murshe (proxy), while I’m detained in the imprisonment of the Besuras HaGeulah.

¹⁴ But I wanted to do nothing without your haskamah (consent, approval), in order that the mitzvah you do might not be meshabed (caused to be obligated) or forced, but voluntary.

¹⁵ Eppis (for some reason) perhaps he was separated from you for a while in order that you might have him back for Yamim HaOlam,

¹⁶ No longer as a bond servant, but, more than a bond servant, an ach ahuv (a beloved brother [in Moshiach]), especially to me, and how much more to you, both as a man and in Adoneinu.

¹⁷ So if you consider me partnered to you as a chaver in our [common orthodox Jewish emunah], receive him as you would me.

¹⁸ But if in anything he wronged you or owes you, charge this to my cheshbon (account, bill).

¹⁹ I, [Rav] Sha’ul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay. This is not to meorer (point out) the fact that on your cheshbon you owe me your very neshamah.

²⁰ Yes, Ach b’Moshiach, I would have some "usefulness" from you in Adoneinu. Refresh my lev in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

²¹ Confident of you as one who is shomer mitzvot, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even above what I say.

²² Also, this too, prepare a heimishe mekom linah (guest room, lodging place) for me, for I have the tikvah (hope) that through your tefillos I will be restored to you.

²³ Drishat Shalom to you from Epaphras, my coprisoner in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.

²⁴ Drishat Shalom, also, from Markos, Aristarchus, Demas, and Lukas, my fellow po’alim (workers).

²⁵ The Chen v’Chesed Hashem of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua be with your neshamah.