Catholic Public Domain Version
"But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly. "
— Philemon 1:14, Catholic Public Domain Version
“But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.”
“but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will. ”
“But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.”
“However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.”
“But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.”
“But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.”
“But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.”
In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.
So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.
I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.
But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.
So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity,
no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!
Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.