1 Peter 5

₁I am an elder like you and I want to encourage you. I have witnessed how Christ has suffered, but I will also see the glory of Christ when He comes as King and God shows it to everyone. ₂You must care for all the believers in the congregation that God gave you, like shepherds who look after their sheep. Do it because you want to do it, because you want to please God, not because you have to do it or to get money. Do it because you love being shepherds. ₃God gave you some people to take care of. Don't be like rulers over them or oppress them, but be kind and be a good example for them. ₄Christ is the Chief Shepherd and, when He comes again, He will give you a crown that will never become old and will always stay beautiful.

₅All you young people must listen to the older men. You must all serve each other and be humble. We read in the Old_Testament:

₆You must humble yourselves before God who is very strong, then He will make you important on the last day. ₇Tell God everything that you are worried about, because He cares for you and He will give you everything that you need.

₈Be careful of what you do and be awake because your enemy, the devil, will come like a roaring lion that wants to catch and eat you. ₉Don't ever listen to the devil but fight him. Your faith must be very strong and you must know that there are a lot of people in the world who also believe in Christ like you, and they also suffer like you. ₁₀But after you have suffered for a short while, the God who gives grace, and who has chosen you to be with Him forever, will help you. He is the King and He will help you because you belong to Christ. He will make your faith strong, and He will give you strength so that you will stand and not fall or sin. ₁₁God is very strong and He will rule forever. Amen.

₁₂I know that Silvanus is a good friend. He will always do what he has promised. He helped me write this short letter to you. I have written this to encourage you and to tell you that this message that God is good, is the truth. This is why you must keep on believing.

₁₃God also chose the congregation here in Babylon as He chose you. The believers here send greetings to you and Mark, my son, also sends greetings to you. ₁₄You must greet each other with a kiss that shows you all love each other. I pray that God will give his peace to all of you who belong to Christ.