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.