World English Bible

Philemon 1:13

“whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.”

Verse in context — Philemon 1

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,

A personal appeal for forgiveness and reconciliation.