Isaiah’s Vision

In the year of (A)King Uzziah’s death (B)I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him, (C)each having six wings: with two each covered his face, and with two each covered his feet, and with two each flew. And one called out to another and said,

(D)Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies.
The [a](E)whole earth is full of His glory.”

And the [b]foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the [c](F)temple was filling with smoke. Then I said,

(G)Woe to me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of (H)unclean lips,
And I live among a (I)people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the (J)King, the Lord of armies.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the (K)altar with tongs. He (L)touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and (M)your guilt is taken away and atonement is made for your sin.”

Isaiah’s Commission

Then I heard the (N)voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then (O)I said, “Here am I. Send me!” And He said, “Go, and tell this people:

‘Keep on (P)listening, but do not understand;
And keep on looking, but do not gain knowledge.’
10 (Q)Make the hearts of this people [d](R)insensitive,
Their ears [e]dull,
And their eyes [f]blind,
(S)So that they will not see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their hearts,
And return and be healed.”

11 Then I said, “Lord, (T)how long?” And He answered,

“Until (U)cities are devastated and without inhabitant,
Houses are without people
And the land is utterly desolate,
12 The Lord has (V)completely removed people,
And there [g]are many (W)forsaken places in the midst of the land.
13 Yet there will still be a tenth portion in it,
And it will again be subject to burning,
Like a terebinth or an (X)oak
Whose stump remains when it is cut down.
The (Y)holy seed is its stump.”

War against Jerusalem

Now it came about in the days of (Z)Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that (AA)Rezin the king of Aram and (AB)Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but (AC)could not [h]conquer it. When it was reported to the (AD)house of David, saying, “The Arameans (AE)have taken a stand by (AF)Ephraim,” his heart and the hearts of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake from the wind.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and your son [i]Shear-jashub, at the end of the (AG)conduit of the upper pool, on the road to the [j]fuller’s field, and say to him, ‘Take care and be (AH)calm, have no (AI)fear and (AJ)do not be fainthearted because of these two stumps of smoldering (AK)logs, on account of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the (AL)son of Remaliah. Because (AM)Aram, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has planned evil against you, saying, “Let’s go up against Judah and [k]terrorize it, and take it for ourselves by assault and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” this is what the Lord [l]God says: “(AN)It shall not stand nor shall it come to pass. For the head of Aram is (AO)Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin (now within another sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken to pieces, so that it is no longer a people), and the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. (AP)If you will not believe, you certainly shall not [m]last.”’”

The Child Immanuel

10 Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask for a (AQ)sign for yourself from the Lord your God; [n]make it deep as Sheol or high as [o]heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I put the Lord to the test!” 13 Then he said, “Listen now, (AR)house of David! Is it too trivial a thing for you to [p]try the patience of men, that you will [q](AS)try the patience of (AT)my God as well? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, (AU)the [r]virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him [s](AV)Immanuel. 15 He will eat [t](AW)curds and honey [u]at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. 16 (AX)For before the boy knows enough to refuse evil and choose good, (AY)the land whose two kings you dread will be abandoned.

Trials to Come for Judah

17 The Lord will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that (AZ)Ephraim separated from Judah—the days of the (BA)king of Assyria.”

18 On that day the Lord will (BB)whistle for the fly that is in the [v](BC)remotest part of the canals of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 They will all come and settle on the steep [w]ravines, on the (BD)ledges of the cliffs, (BE)on all the thorn bushes, and on all the watering places.

20 On that day the Lord will (BF)shave with a (BG)razor, (BH)hired from regions beyond (BI)the Euphrates River (that is, with the king of Assyria), the head and the hair of the legs; and it will also remove the beard.

21 Now on that day a person may keep alive only a (BJ)heifer and a pair of sheep; 22 and because of the abundance of the milk produced he will eat [x]curds, for everyone who is left within the land will eat [y](BK)curds and honey.

23 And it will come about on that day, (BL)that every place where there used to be a thousand vines, valued at a thousand shekels of silver, will become (BM)briars and thorns. 24 People will come there with bows and arrows, because all the land will be briars and thorns. 25 As for all the hills which used to be cultivated with the plow, you will not go there for fear of briars and thorns; but they will become a place for [z](BN)pasturing oxen and for sheep to trample.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 6:3 Lit fullness of the whole earth is His glory
  2. Isaiah 6:4 Lit door sockets
  3. Isaiah 6:4 Lit house
  4. Isaiah 6:10 Lit fat
  5. Isaiah 6:10 Lit heavy
  6. Isaiah 6:10 Lit sealed over
  7. Isaiah 6:12 Or forsakenness will be great
  8. Isaiah 7:1 Lit fight against
  9. Isaiah 7:3 I.e., a remnant shall return
  10. Isaiah 7:3 I.e., launderer’s
  11. Isaiah 7:6 Or demolish
  12. Isaiah 7:7 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  13. Isaiah 7:9 Or endure
  14. Isaiah 7:11 As in most ancient versions; MT make the request deep or high
  15. Isaiah 7:11 Lit heights
  16. Isaiah 7:13 Lit make men weary
  17. Isaiah 7:13 Lit make my God weary
  18. Isaiah 7:14 As in LXX; MT young unmarried woman
  19. Isaiah 7:14 I.e., God is with us
  20. Isaiah 7:15 Possibly butter
  21. Isaiah 7:15 Lit with respect to his knowing
  22. Isaiah 7:18 Or mouth of the rivers; i.e., the Nile Delta
  23. Isaiah 7:19 Or wadis
  24. Isaiah 7:22 Possibly butter
  25. Isaiah 7:22 Possibly butter
  26. Isaiah 7:25 Lit pastureland of

Isaiah’s Commission

In the year that King Uzziah(A) died,(B) I saw the Lord,(C) high and exalted,(D) seated on a throne;(E) and the train of his robe(F) filled the temple. Above him were seraphim,(G) each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet,(H) and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy(I), holy is the Lord Almighty;(J)
    the whole earth(K) is full of his glory.”(L)

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.(M)

“Woe(N) to me!” I cried. “I am ruined!(O) For I am a man of unclean lips,(P) and I live among a people of unclean lips,(Q) and my eyes have seen(R) the King,(S) the Lord Almighty.”(T)

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal(U) in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips;(V) your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.(W)

Then I heard the voice(X) of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?(Y) And who will go for us?(Z)

And I said, “Here am I.(AA) Send me!”

He said, “Go(AB) and tell this people:

“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
    be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’(AC)
10 Make the heart of this people calloused;(AD)
    make their ears dull
    and close their eyes.[a](AE)
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,(AF)
    understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”(AG)

11 Then I said, “For how long, Lord?”(AH)

And he answered:

“Until the cities lie ruined(AI)
    and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left deserted(AJ)
    and the fields ruined and ravaged,(AK)
12 until the Lord has sent everyone far away(AL)
    and the land is utterly forsaken.(AM)
13 And though a tenth remains(AN) in the land,
    it will again be laid waste.(AO)
But as the terebinth and oak
    leave stumps(AP) when they are cut down,
    so the holy(AQ) seed will be the stump in the land.”(AR)

The Sign of Immanuel

When Ahaz(AS) son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin(AT) of Aram(AU) and Pekah(AV) son of Remaliah(AW) king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

Now the house of David(AX) was told, “Aram has allied itself with[b] Ephraim(AY)”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken,(AZ) as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,[c](BA) to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.(BB) Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm(BC) and don’t be afraid.(BD) Do not lose heart(BE) because of these two smoldering stubs(BF) of firewood—because of the fierce anger(BG) of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.(BH) Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s(BI) son have plotted(BJ) your ruin, saying, “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:(BK)

“‘It will not take place,
    it will not happen,(BL)
for the head of Aram is Damascus,(BM)
    and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.(BN)
Within sixty-five years
    Ephraim will be too shattered(BO) to be a people.
The head of Ephraim is Samaria,(BP)
    and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand(BQ) firm in your faith,(BR)
    you will not stand at all.’”(BS)

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign,(BT) whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.(BU)

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.(BV)

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David!(BW) Is it not enough(BX) to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience(BY) of my God(BZ) also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[d] a sign:(CA) The virgin[e](CB) will conceive and give birth to a son,(CC) and[f] will call him Immanuel.[g](CD) 15 He will be eating curds(CE) and honey(CF) when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows(CG) enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,(CH) the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.(CI) 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away(CJ) from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.(CK)

Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument

18 In that day(CL) the Lord will whistle(CM) for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.(CN) 19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices(CO) in the rocks, on all the thornbushes(CP) and at all the water holes. 20 In that day(CQ) the Lord will use(CR) a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River(CS)—the king of Assyria(CT)—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard(CU) also.(CV) 21 In that day,(CW) a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats.(CX) 22 And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds(CY) and honey.(CZ) 23 In that day,(DA) in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,[h](DB) there will be only briers and thorns.(DC) 24 Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers(DD) and thorns. 25 As for all the hills(DE) once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns;(DF) they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.(DG)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 6:10 Hebrew; Septuagint ‘You will be ever hearing, but never understanding; / you will be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / 10 This people’s heart has become calloused; / they hardly hear with their ears, / and they have closed their eyes
  2. Isaiah 7:2 Or has set up camp in
  3. Isaiah 7:3 Shear-Jashub means a remnant will return.
  4. Isaiah 7:14 The Hebrew is plural.
  5. Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman
  6. Isaiah 7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls son, and he or son, and they
  7. Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God with us.
  8. Isaiah 7:23 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms

Uzziah Succeeds Amaziah in Judah

26 Now all the people of Judah took [a]Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king [b]lay down with his fathers. Uzziah was (A)sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was [c]Jechiliah of Jerusalem. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that his father Amaziah had done. (B)He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, (C)who had understanding [d]through the vision of God; and [e](D)as long as he sought the Lord, God made him successful.

Uzziah Succeeds in War

Now he went out and (E)fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the area of Ashdod and among the Philistines. (F)God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites. The Ammonites gave (G)tribute to Uzziah, and his [f]fame extended to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at (H)the Corner Gate, the (I)Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the wilderness and (J)carved out many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the [g]lowland and in the plain. He also had plowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the fertile fields, for he loved the soil. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which [h]entered combat by divisions according to the number of their muster, [i]recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officers. 12 The total number of the heads of the [j]households, of valiant warriors, was 2,600. 13 Under their direction was an army of (K)307,500, who could wage war with great power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared [k]for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slingstones. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines of war invented by skillful workmen to be on the towers and the corners, for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. So his [l]fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

Pride Is Uzziah’s Undoing

16 But (L)when he became strong, his heart was so [m]proud that he acted corruptly, and he was untrue to the Lord his God, for (M)he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then (N)Azariah the priest entered after him, and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. 18 (O)They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “(P)It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, (Q)but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been untrue and will have no honor from the Lord God.” 19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, (R)leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense. 20 Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they quickly removed him from there, and he himself also hurried to get out because the Lord had stricken him. 21 (S)King Uzziah had leprosy to the day of his death; and he lived in (T)a separate house, afflicted as he was with leprosy, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. And his son Jotham was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, the first to the last, the prophet (U)Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written. 23 So Uzziah [n]lay down with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers (V)in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He had leprosy.” And his son Jotham became king in his place.

Jotham Succeeds Uzziah in Judah

27 (W)Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; (X)however he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people continued acting corruptly. He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord, and he built the wall of (Y)Ophel extensively. Moreover, he built (Z)cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills. He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that during that year the Ammonites gave him [o]a hundred talents of silver, [p]ten thousand kors of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second year and in the third. (AA)So Jotham became powerful because he directed his ways before the Lord his God. (AB)Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was (AC)twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. And Jotham [q]lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and his son Ahaz became king in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 26:1 In 2 Kin 14:21, Azariah
  2. 2 Chronicles 26:2 I.e., died
  3. 2 Chronicles 26:3 In 2 Kin 15:2, Jecoliah
  4. 2 Chronicles 26:5 Many mss in the fear of God
  5. 2 Chronicles 26:5 Lit in the days of his seeking
  6. 2 Chronicles 26:8 Lit name went to the entering of Egypt
  7. 2 Chronicles 26:10 Heb shephelah
  8. 2 Chronicles 26:11 Lit was going out to
  9. 2 Chronicles 26:11 Lit by the hand of
  10. 2 Chronicles 26:12 Lit fathers
  11. 2 Chronicles 26:14 Lit for them, for all
  12. 2 Chronicles 26:15 Lit name
  13. 2 Chronicles 26:16 Lit high
  14. 2 Chronicles 26:23 I.e., died
  15. 2 Chronicles 27:5 About 3.75 tons or 3.4 metric tons
  16. 2 Chronicles 27:5 About 77,000 cubic feet or 2,180 cubic meters
  17. 2 Chronicles 27:9 I.e., died

Uzziah King of Judah(A)(B)

26 Then all the people of Judah(C) took Uzziah,[a] who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear[b] of God.(D) As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.(E)

He went to war against the Philistines(F) and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod.(G) He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs(H) who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites.(I) The Ammonites(J) brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful.

Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate,(K) at the Valley Gate(L) and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.

11 Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials. 12 The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. 14 Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army.(M) 15 In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.

16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride(N) led to his downfall.(O) He was unfaithful(P) to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense(Q) on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah(R) the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests,(S) the descendants(T) of Aaron,(U) who have been consecrated to burn incense.(V) Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.”

19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy[c](W) broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.

21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house[d](X)—leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

22 The other events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah(Y) son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah(Z) rested with his ancestors and was buried near them in a cemetery that belonged to the kings, for people said, “He had leprosy.” And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.(AA)

Jotham King of Judah(AB)

27 Jotham(AC) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the Lord. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord and did extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel.(AD) He built towns in the hill country of Judah and forts and towers in the wooded areas.

Jotham waged war against the king of the Ammonites(AE) and conquered them. That year the Ammonites paid him a hundred talents[e] of silver, ten thousand cors[f] of wheat and ten thousand cors[g] of barley. The Ammonites brought him the same amount also in the second and third years.

Jotham grew powerful(AF) because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God.

The other events in Jotham’s reign, including all his wars and the other things he did, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 26:1 Also called Azariah
  2. 2 Chronicles 26:5 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts vision
  3. 2 Chronicles 26:19 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin; also in verses 20, 21 and 23.
  4. 2 Chronicles 26:21 Or in a house where he was relieved of responsibilities
  5. 2 Chronicles 27:5 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  6. 2 Chronicles 27:5 That is, probably about 1,800 tons or about 1,600 metric tons of wheat
  7. 2 Chronicles 27:5 That is, probably about 1,500 tons or about 1,350 metric tons of barley

Salutation

(A)Paul, (B)a prisoner of (C)Christ Jesus, and (D)Timothy [a]our brother,

To Philemon our beloved brother and (E)fellow worker, and to Apphia [b](F)our sister, and to (G)Archippus our (H)fellow soldier, and to (I)the church in your house: (J)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

(K)I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I (L)hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the [c]saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective [d]through the (M)knowledge of every good thing which is in you [e]for the sake of Christ. For I have had great (N)joy and comfort in your love, because the [f]hearts of the [g]saints have been (O)refreshed through you, brother.

Therefore, (P)though I have [h]enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is (Q)proper, yet for love’s sake I rather (R)appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, [i]an (S)old man, and now also (T)a prisoner of (U)Christ Jesus—

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10 I (V)appeal to you for my (W)[j]son [k](X)Onesimus, whom I [l]fathered in my [m]imprisonment, 11 who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13 whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my [n](Y)imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would (Z)not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps it was (AA)for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16 (AB)no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, (AC)a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both (AD)in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you regard me as a (AE)partner, accept him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19 (AF)I, Paul, have written this with my own hand, I will repay it ((AG)not to [o]mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). 20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; (AH)refresh my heart in Christ.

21 (AI)Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

22 At the same time also prepare me a (AJ)guest room, for (AK)I hope that through (AL)your prayers (AM)I will be given to you.

23 (AN)Epaphras, my (AO)fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do (AP)Mark, (AQ)Aristarchus, (AR)Demas, and (AS)Luke, my (AT)fellow workers.

25 (AU)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be (AV)with your spirit.[p]

Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:1 Lit the
  2. Philemon 1:2 Lit the
  3. Philemon 1:5 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  4. Philemon 1:6 Or in
  5. Philemon 1:6 Lit toward Christ
  6. Philemon 1:7 Lit inward parts
  7. Philemon 1:7 See note v 5
  8. Philemon 1:8 Lit much
  9. Philemon 1:9 Or an ambassador
  10. Philemon 1:10 Or child
  11. Philemon 1:10 I.e., useful
  12. Philemon 1:10 I.e., led to the Lord
  13. Philemon 1:10 Lit bonds
  14. Philemon 1:13 Lit bonds
  15. Philemon 1:19 Lit say
  16. Philemon 1:25 One early ms adds Amen

Paul, a prisoner(A) of Christ Jesus, and Timothy(B) our brother,(C)

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker(D) also to Apphia our sister and Archippus(E) our fellow soldier(F)—and to the church that meets in your home:(G)

Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(H)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I always thank my God(I) as I remember you in my prayers,(J) because I hear about your love for all his holy people(K) and your faith in the Lord Jesus.(L) I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,(M) because you, brother, have refreshed(N) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you(O) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner(P) of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son(Q) Onesimus,[b](R) who became my son while I was in chains.(S) 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains(T) for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced(U) but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave,(V) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.(W) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner,(X) welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.(Y) 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.(Z) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh(AA) my heart in Christ. 21 Confident(AB) of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be(AC) restored to you in answer to your prayers.(AD)

23 Epaphras,(AE) my fellow prisoner(AF) in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark,(AG) Aristarchus,(AH) Demas(AI) and Luke, my fellow workers.(AJ)

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular.
  2. Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.