¹⁰I make an appeal to you for my son Onesimus. He became a son to me while I was being held by chains. ¹¹Before that, he was useless to you. But now he has become useful to you and to me.

¹²I’m sending Onesimus back to you. My very heart goes with him.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains. Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. I am sending him back to you—I am sending my very own heart.

NLTNew Living Translation

I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I became the father of during my imprisonment, Onesimus. Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful to you and to me, whom I have sent back to you himself, that is, my heart,

KJV 1900King James Version

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

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