1 Peter 5 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Helping Christian Leaders

5 Church leaders, I am writing to encourage you. I too am a leader, as well as a witness to Christ's suffering, and I will share in his glory when it is shown to us.

2 (A) Just as shepherds watch over their sheep, you must watch over everyone God has placed in your care. Do it willingly in order to please God, and not simply because you think you must. Let it be something you want to do, instead of something you do merely to make money. 3 Don't be bossy to those people who are in your care, but set an example for them. 4 Then when Christ the Chief Shepherd returns, you will be given a crown that will never lose its glory.

5 (B) All of you young people should obey your elders. In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say,

“God opposes proud people,
but he helps everyone
who is humble.”

6 (C) Be humble in the presence of God's mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. 7 (D) God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.

8 Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. 9 But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord's followers are suffering just as you are. 10 But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm. 11 God will be in control forever! Amen.

Final Greetings

12 (E) Silvanus helped me write this short letter, and I consider him a faithful follower of the Lord. I wanted to encourage you and tell you how kind God really is, so you will keep on having faith in him.

13 (F) Greetings from the Lord's followers in Babylon.[a] They are God's chosen ones.

Mark, who is like a son to me, sends his greetings too.

14 Give each other a warm greeting. I pray that God will give peace to everyone who belongs to Christ.[b]

Footnotes

  1. 5.13 Babylon: This may be a secret name for the city of Rome.
  2. 5.14 Christ: Some manuscripts add “Amen.”

Cross references

  1. 5.2 : Jn 21.15-17.
  2. 5.5 : Pr 3.34 (LXX).
  3. 5.6 : Mt 23.12; Lk 14.11; 18.14.
  4. 5.7 : Si 2.1-18.
  5. 5.12 : Ac 15.22,40.
  6. 5.13 : Ac 12.12,25; 13.13; 15.37-39; Col 4.10; Phm 24.

You Might Also Like:

1 Peter 5 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

5 Elders who [are] among you, I exhort, who [am] a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be revealed a partaker, 2 feed the flock of God that [is] among you, overseeing not constrainedly, but willingly, neither for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, 3...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

5 Therefore I, an even-elder man, and a witness of Christ's passions, which also am a communer of that glory, that shall be showed in time to come; beseech the elder men, that be among you,[a] 2 feed ye the flock of God, that is among you, and purvey ye, not as constrained, but willfully, by God [p...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

5 So I am talking to the leaders among you. I am also a leader. I saw the sufferings of Christ. And I will have some part of his greatness when he comes again. 2 Take good care of God's people. They have been given to you to care for. Do this, not because you must do it, but because you want to plea...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - World English Bible (WEB)

5 Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gai...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - The Voice (VOICE)

5 Now for the elders of the church. I want to encourage you. As you know, I am an elder, too, like you. I have witnessed firsthand the sufferings of the Anointed One as well as shared in the glories which are soon to be revealed. 2 When you shepherd the flock God has given you, watch over them not ...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Shepherds Lead by Example5 Therefore I appeal to the elders among you—as a fellow elder and witness of Messiah’s sufferings, and a partaker also of the glory about to be revealed— 2 shepherd God’s flock among you. Watch over it not under compulsion but willingly before God, not for dishonest gain bu...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Tending the Flock of God5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. 2 Tend the flock of God that is your charge,[a] not by constraint but willingly,[b] not for shameful gain but eagerly, ...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Tending the Flock of God5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. 2 Tend the flock of God that is your charge,[a] not by constraint but willingly,[b] not for shameful gain but eagerly, ...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

5 I encourage the elders among you. I am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. 2 Feed the flock of God which depends on you. Care for it - not by compulsion, but voluntarily; not greedily, but eagerly; 3 not as though you wer...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Humble Shepherds5 So, then, I appeal to the elders among you, as a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of the Messiah, and as one who will share in the glory that is to be revealed. 2 Do the proper work of a shepherd as you look after God’s flock which has been entrusted to you, not under ...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Tending the Flock of God5 Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2 to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight,[a] not under compulsion but willingly, as God...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Tending the Flock of God5 Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you(A)2 to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight,[a] not under compulsion but willingly, as Go...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

A special exhortation for all bishops or priests to feed the flock of Christ, and what their duty is, and what reward they shall have if they be diligent. He exhorts young persons to submit themselves to the elders, and everyone to love one another, to be sober, and to watch so that they may resist ...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Advice for Elders and Young Men5 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has ent...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - New Life Version (NLV)

5 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. 2 Be 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...
Read More

1 Peter 5 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Shepherd the Flock5 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a (A)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the (B)glory that will be revealed: 2 (C)Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, (D)not by compulsion but [a]willingly,...
Read More