¹⁷ Obey ^(A)your leaders and submit to them, ^(B)for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to ^(C)give an account. ^(D)Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Final Instructions and Benediction

¹² We ask you, brothers, ^(A)to respect those who labor among you and ^(B)are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. ^(C)Be at peace among yourselves.

⁷ Remember ^(A)your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and ^(B)imitate their faith.

¹⁷ Let the elders ^(A)who rule well be considered worthy of ^(B)double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

^28 (A)Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all ^(B)the flock, in which ^(C)the Holy Spirit has made you ^(D)overseers, ^(E)to care for ^(F)the church of God,^[a] which he ^(G)obtained ^(H)with his own blood.^[b]

^2 (A)shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,^{[a] (B)}not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;^{[b] (C)}not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not ^(D)domineering over those in your charge, but ^(E)being examples to the flock.

⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. ^(A)Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ^(B)“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

^7 (A)“So you, ^(B)son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. ^(C)Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. ^8 (D)If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, ^(E)and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, ^(F)that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. ^9 (G)But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, ^(H)that person shall die in his iniquity, ^(I)but you will have delivered your soul.

¹⁹ For what is our hope or ^(A)joy or crown of boasting ^(B)before our Lord Jesus at his ^(C)coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.