1 I want to speak to the church leaders among you. I am a church leader also. I saw Christ suffer and die on a cross. I will also share His shining-greatness when He comes again.

وَالآنَ أُناشِدُ الشُّيُوخَ، كَشَيخٍ مِثلِهِمْ، وَكَشاهِدٍ لآلامِ المَسِيحِ، وَشَرِيكٍ فِي المَجدِ الَّذِي سَيَظهَرُ مُستَقبَلاً،

2 B e good shepherds of the flock God has put in your care. Do not care for the flock as if you were made to. Do not care for the flock for money, but do it because you want to.

وَأقُولُ لَهُمُ ارعُوا رَعِيَّةَ اللهِ الَّتِي تَحتَ مَسؤُولِيَّتِكُمْ. اخدِمُوهُمْ كَمُشرِفِينَ عَلَيهِمْ، لا لأنَّكُمْ مُضطَرُّونَ، بَلْ لِأنَّكُمْ راغِبُونَ فِي ذَلِكَ حَسَبَ مَشِيئَةِ اللهِ. وَلا تَعمَلُوا طَمَعاً فِي مالٍ، بَلْ بِنَشاطٍ.

3 D o not be bosses over the people you lead. Live as you would like to have them live.

وَلا تَتَسَلَّطُوا عَلَى مَنْ هُمْ تَحتَ رِعايَتِكُمْ، بَلْ كُونُوا مِثالاً صالِحاً لِلرَّعِيَّةِ.

4 W hen the Head Shepherd comes again, you will get the crown of shining-greatness that will not come to an end.

وَعِندَما يَظهَرُ راعِي الرُّعاةِ، سَتَنالُونَ إكلِيلَ الانتِصارِ المَجِيدِ الَّذِي لَنْ تَذبُلَ أوراقُهُ.

5 I n the same way, you younger men must obey the church leaders. Be gentle as you care for each other. God works against those who have pride. He gives His loving-favor to those who do not try to honor themselves.

كَذَلِكَ أيُّها الشَّبابُ، اخضَعُوا لِلشُّيُوخِ. وَالبَسُوا جَمِيعاً ثَوبَ التَّواضُعِ بَعضُكُمْ أمامَ بَعضٍ. «لِأنَّ اللهَ يُقاوِمُ المُتَكَبِّرِينَ، لَكِنَّهُ يُظهِرُ نِعمَتَهُ لِلمُتَواضِعِينَ.»

6 S o put away all pride from yourselves. You are standing under the powerful hand of God. At the right time He will lift you up.

لِذَلِكَ تَواضَعُوا تَحتَ يَدِ اللهِ القَويَّةِ، لِكَي يَرفَعَكُمْ فِي الوَقتِ المُناسِبِ.

7 G ive all your worries to Him because He cares for you.

وَاطرَحُوا عَلَيهِ كُلَّ هُمُومِكُمْ، فَهُوَ يَهتَمُّ بِكُمْ.

8 K eep awake! Watch at all times. The devil is working against you. He is walking around like a hungry lion with his mouth open. He is looking for someone to eat.

كُونُوا مُنضَبِطِي النَّفسِ مُتَعَقِّلِينَ مُتَيَقِّظِينَ. لِأنَّ عَدُوَّكُمُ الشَّيطانُ يَتَجَوَّلُ مِثلَ أسَدٍ يَزأرُ باحِثاً عَمَّنْ يَلتَهِمُهُ.

9 S tand against him and be strong in your faith. Remember, other Christians over all the world are suffering the same as you are.

فَقاوِمُوهُ وَأنتُمْ أقوِياءُ فِي إيمانِكُمْ. فَأنتُمْ تَعلَمُونَ أنَّ الآلامَ نَفسَها الَّتِي تَمُرُّونَ بِها، تُصِيبُ أيضاً إخْوَتَكُمْ فِي كُلِّ العالَمْ.

10 A fter you have suffered for awhile, God Himself will make you perfect. He will keep you in the right way. He will give you strength. He is the God of all loving-favor and has called you through Christ Jesus to share His shining-greatness forever.

لَكِنَّ اللهَ سَيُصَوِّبُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ، وَيَسنِدُكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتُكُمْ بَعْدَ أنْ تَتَألَّمُوا قَلِيلاً. فَهُوَ مَصدَرُ كُلِّ نِعمَةٍ. وَهُوَ الَّذِي دَعاكُمْ إلَى الاشتِراكِ فِي مَجدِهِ الأبَدِيِّ فِي المَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ.

11 G od has power over all things forever. Let it be so.

لَهُ القُوَّةُ وَالمَجدُ إلَى الأبَدِ. آمِين. خاتِمَة

12 I have known Silvanus as a faithful Christian brother and it is by him I have written this short letter to help you. It tells you of the true loving-favor of God. Stay true in His loving-favor.

كَتَبْتُ إلَيكُمْ هَذِهِ الرِّسالَةَ القَصِيرَةَ بِمُساعَدَةِ سِلْوانُسَ الَّذِي أعتَبِرُهُ أخاً مُخلِصاً، لِكَي أُشَجِّعَكُمْ، وَأشهَدَ أنَّ هَذِهِ هِيَ نِعمَةُ اللهِ الحَقِيقِيَّةُ. فاثبُتُوا فِيها.

13 T he church which is in the city of Babylon says hello. It has been chosen by God the same as you have been. My son, Mark, says hello also.

تُهدِيكُمُ السَّلامَ الكَنِيسَةُ الَّتي فِي بابِلَ، الَّتي اخْتارَها اللهُ مَعَكُمْ. كَما يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيكُمْ مَرْقُسُ ابْنِي.

14 G reet each other with a kiss of holy love. May all of you Christians have peace.

حَيُّوا بَعضُكُمْ بَعضاً بِقُبلَةِ مَحَبَّةٍ. سَلامٌ لَكُمْ جَمِيعاً يا مَنْ أنتُمْ فِي المَسِيحِ.