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.

Elders who among you, I exhort, who a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be revealed a partaker,

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.

feed the flock of God that among you, overseeing not constrainedly, but willingly, neither for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind,

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

neither as exercising lordship over the heritages, but patterns becoming of the flock,

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

and at the manifestation of the chief Shepherd, ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory.

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.

In like manner, ye younger, be subject to elders, and all to one another subjecting yourselves; with humble-mindedness clothe yourselves, because God the proud doth resist, but to the humble He doth give grace;

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.

be humbled, then, under the powerful hand of God, that you He may exalt in good time,

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

all your care having cast upon Him, because He careth for you.

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.

Be sober, vigilant, because your opponent the devil, as a roaring lion, doth walk about, seeking whom he may swallow up,

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.

whom resist, stedfast in the faith, having known the same sufferings to your brotherhood in the world to be accomplished.

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.

And the God of all grace, who did call you to His age-during glory in Christ Jesus, having suffered a little, Himself make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle;

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

to Him the glory, and the power -- to the ages and the ages! Amen.

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.

Through Silvanus, to you the faithful brother, as I reckon, through few I did write, exhorting and testifying this to be the true grace of God in which ye have stood.

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.

Salute you doth the in Babylon jointly elected, and Markus my son.

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

Salute ye one another in a kiss of love; peace to you all who in Christ Jesus! Amen.