CHAPTER 5

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory which shall be revealed:

2 Feed as much as in you lieth the flock of God, discharging the office of bishops, not constrainedly, but willingly; not for the sake of filthy lucre, but liberally;

3 And not as exercising tyranny over God's heritages, but that ye may be patterns to the flock:

4 And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive an unfading crown of glory.

5 In like manner the younger, be ye subject to the elder; yea, be ye all subject to one another: put ye on humility of mind; because God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

6 Be ye then humbled under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;

7 All your care being cast on him, for he cares for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the Devil, as a roaring lion, goeth around, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist ye, being firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren in the world.

10 Now the God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus, -- may he perfect you, while suffering for a short time, confirm, strengthen, and establish you:

11 To him be the glory and the dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.

12 By Sylvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I have written in a few words, exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which ye stand.

13 The church, elected together with you, which is in Babylon, saluteth you, and Marcus my son.

14 Salute ye one another with the kiss of love. Grace be to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.