King James Version
"Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:"
— Philemon 1:13, King James Version
“whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel: ”
“whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.”
“I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.”
“Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel.”
“Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place:”
“Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:”
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:
Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
Not 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?