NET Bible
"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."
— Philemon 1:14, NET Bible
“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.”
“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.”
who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.
I have sent him(who is my very heart) back to you.
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.
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.
For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.
Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.