5 Now I want to say something to you who are leaders of the groups of believers. Like you, I am also a leader. I myself saw how people caused Christ to have great pain so that he died. One day people will see how great he really is. Then I will be among those people who join with him in heaven. So I say this to you who are leaders: 2 Watch over the group of believers that God has given to you. Be like a shepherd that takes care of his sheep. Lead them well because you want to do it. Do not do it just because you have to do it. Do it in the way that God wants for you. Do not be a leader because you want to receive money for yourself. Instead, do it because you want to help people.
3 God has given you a group of believers to take care of them. Do not try to rule over them with power. Instead, show them how to live in a good way, so that they can copy you. 4 Then our master, Christ, will give you a beautiful crown when he appears. That is a great gift that will never become old or less beautiful. He is the great Shepherd who takes care of us. [ a ]
5 I want to say the same thing to you who are young men. You must respect the authority of the leaders. All of you who are believers must respect one another. Do not think that you are more important than other people. The Bible says:
‘God is against proud people.
But he is kind to humble people.’ [ b ]
6 Remember that God is strong and powerful. So be humble in front of him. Then he will lift you up to a good place at the right time. 7 If you have any kind of trouble in your mind, give it to God. God has promised to take care of you. [ c ]
8 Think seriously about how you live. Watch carefully for danger. Remember that the Devil is your enemy. He wants to hurt you. He walks about like a hungry lion. He is looking for someone to kill and then eat them! 9 But you must be strong to fight against him. Trust God completely. Remember this: Believers all over the world are having the same kind of trouble. 10 Yes, you will have trouble like this for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He is completely kind and he will always help you. Because you belong to Christ, God has chosen you to live with him in heaven for ever. You will join him in that beautiful place. Then God will make you well again. He will make you strong in your spirits. You will be able to stand strongly. 11 Yes, God rules with power for ever! Amen! This is true!
12 Silas has helped me to write this short letter to you. I know that he continues to trust Christ well. [ d ] I have written to you because I want you to be strong. I have told you how God is kind to us and he helps us. This is God's true message to you. So continue to believe it and be strong.
13 The believers here in Babylon say ‘hello’ to you. [ e ] God has chosen them as his people, together with you. Mark, who is like my son, also says ‘hello’ to you. 14 When you meet, kiss each other as Christian brothers and sisters.
I pray for all of you who belong to Christ. I pray that God will give you peace in your minds.
5 Now I have something to say to the elders in your group. I am also an elder. I myself have seen Christ’s sufferings. And I will share in the glory that will be shown to us. I beg you to 2 take care of the group of people you are responsible for. They are God’s flock. [ a ] Watch over that flock because you want to, not because you are forced to do it. That is how God wants it. Do it because you are happy to serve, not because you want money. 3 Don’t be like a ruler over those you are responsible for. But be good examples to them. 4 Then when Christ the Ruling Shepherd comes, you will get a crown—one that will be glorious and never lose its beauty.
5 Young people, I have something to say to you too. You should accept the authority of the elders. You should all have a humble attitude in dealing with each other.
“God is against the proud,
but he is kind to the humble.” ( A )
6 So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. 7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.
8 Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat. 9 Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are having the same sufferings that you have.
10 Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever. 11 All power is his forever. Amen.
12 Silas will bring this letter to you. I know that he is a faithful brother in Christ. I wrote this short letter to encourage you. I wanted to tell you that this is the true grace of God. Stand strong in that grace.
13 The church in Babylon [ b ] sends you greetings. They were chosen just as you were. Mark, my son in Christ, also sends his greetings. 14 Give each other a special greeting [ c ] of love when you meet.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
5 ( A ) Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your ( B ) fellow elder and a ( C ) witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a [ a ] ( D ) fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: 2 shepherd ( E ) the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, ( F ) not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and ( G ) not [ b ] with greed but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as ( H ) domineering over [ c ] those assigned to your care, but by [ d ] proving to be [ e ] ( I ) examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief ( J ) Shepherd appears, you will receive the ( K ) unfading [ f ] ( L ) crown of glory. 5 ( M ) You [ g ] younger men, likewise, ( N ) be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with ( O ) humility toward one another, because ( P ) God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble .
6 Therefore ( Q ) humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 having cast all your ( R ) anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. 8 ( S ) Be of sober spirit , ( T ) be on the alert. Your adversary, ( U ) the devil, prowls around like a roaring ( V ) lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 [ h ] ( W ) So resist him, ( X ) firm in your faith, knowing that ( Y ) the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [ i ] brothers and sisters who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered ( Z ) for a little while, the ( AA ) God of all grace, who ( AB ) called you to His ( AC ) eternal glory in Christ, will Himself ( AD ) perfect, ( AE ) confirm, strengthen, and establish you . 11 ( AF ) To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 Through ( AG ) Silvanus, our faithful brother [ j ] (for so I regard him ), ( AH ) I have written to you briefly, [ k ] exhorting and testifying that this is ( AI ) the true grace of God. ( AJ ) Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you , sends you greetings, and so does my son, ( AK ) Mark. 14 ( AL ) Greet one another with a kiss of love.
( AM ) Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder ( A ) and a witness ( B ) of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ( C ) 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock ( D ) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; ( E ) not pursuing dishonest gain, ( F ) but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over ( G ) those entrusted to you, but being examples ( H ) to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd ( I ) appears, you will receive the crown of glory ( J ) that will never fade away. ( K )
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves ( L ) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility ( M ) toward one another, because,
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ( O ) 7 Cast all your anxiety on him ( P ) because he cares for you. ( Q )
8 Be alert and of sober mind. ( R ) Your enemy the devil prowls around ( S ) like a roaring lion ( T ) looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, ( U ) standing firm in the faith, ( V ) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ( W )
10 And the God of all grace, who called you ( X ) to his eternal glory ( Y ) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, ( Z ) will himself restore you and make you strong, ( AA ) firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. ( AB )
12 With the help of Silas, [ b ] ( AC ) whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, ( AD ) encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. ( AE )
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. ( AF ) 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. ( AG )
Peace ( AH ) to all of you who are in Christ.
