Serve God Willingly

(A)Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your (B)fellow elder and (C)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a (D)partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 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 for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as (H)lording it over [a]those allotted to your charge, but [b]proving to be (I)examples to the flock. And when the Chief (J)Shepherd appears, you will receive the (K)unfading [c](L)crown of glory. (M)You younger men, likewise, (N)be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with (O)humility toward one another, for (P)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Therefore (Q)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your (R)anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (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. [d](W)But resist him, (X)firm in your faith, knowing that (Y)the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [e]brethren 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 [f](for so I regard him), (AH)I have written to you briefly, 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.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 5:3 Lit the allotments
  2. 1 Peter 5:3 Or becoming
  3. 1 Peter 5:4 Lit wreath
  4. 1 Peter 5:9 Lit whom resist
  5. 1 Peter 5:9 Lit brotherhood
  6. 1 Peter 5:12 Lit (as I consider)