To Older and Younger Believers
1I’m speaking to the elders among you. I was a witness of Christ’s sufferings. And I will also share in the glory that is going to come. I’m making my appeal to you as one who is an elder together with you. 2Be shepherds of God’s flock, the believers under your care. Watch over them, though not because you have to. Instead, do it because you want to. That’s what God wants you to do. Don’t do it because you want to get money in dishonest ways. Do it because you really want to serve. 3Don’t act as if you were a ruler over those under your care. Instead, be examples to the flock. 4The Chief Shepherd will come again. Then you will receive the crown of glory. It is a crown that will never fade away.
5In the same way, I’m speaking to you who are younger. Follow the lead of those who are older. All of you, put on a spirit free of pride toward one another. Put it on as if it were your clothes. Do this because Scripture says,
“God opposes those who are proud.
But he gives grace to those who are humble.” (Proverbs 3:34)
6So make yourselves humble. Put yourselves under God’s mighty hand. Then he will honor you at the right time. 7Turn all your worries over to him. He cares about you.
8Be watchful and control yourselves. Your enemy the devil is like a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to swallow up. 9Stand up to him. Remain strong in what you believe. You know that you are not alone in your suffering. The family of believers throughout the world is going through the same thing.
10God always gives you all the grace you need. So you will only have to suffer for a little while. Then God himself will build you up again. He will make you strong and steady. And he has chosen you to share in his eternal glory because you belong to Christ. 11Give him the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
12I consider Silas to be a faithful brother. With his help I have written you this short letter. I have written it to encourage you. And I have written to speak the truth about the true grace of God. Remain strong in it.
13The members of the church in Babylon send you their greetings. They were chosen together with you. Mark, my son in the faith, also sends you his greetings.
14Greet each other with a kiss of friendship.
May God give peace to all of you who believe in Christ.
勸勉長老
1我是基督受苦的見證人，將分享以後所顯明的榮耀。我以長老的身分勸你們中間作長老的： 2務要牧養上帝託付給你們的羊群，按著上帝的旨意甘心樂意地照顧他們，不是出於勉強，不是為了謀利，而是出於熱誠。 3不要辖制託付給你們的羊群，而是要做群羊的榜樣。 4等到大牧長顯現的時候，你們必得到永不衰殘的榮耀冠冕。
5你們年輕的要順服年長的，大家都要存謙卑的心彼此服侍。因為上帝阻擋驕傲的人，恩待謙卑的人。 6所以你們要在上帝大能的手下謙卑，時候到了，祂必擢升你們。 7你們要把一切憂慮卸給上帝，因為祂眷顧你們。
8你們務要謹慎，警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼好像咆哮的獅子四處遊走，尋找可以吞吃的獵物。 9你們要以堅固的信心抵擋牠，要知道世界各地的弟兄姊妹在遭受同樣的苦難。 10你們忍受短暫的苦難之後，廣施恩典、在基督裡呼召你們享受祂永遠榮耀的上帝必親自復興你們，使你們剛強、篤定、堅立。 11願權能歸給祂，直到永永遠遠。阿們！
問候
12在忠心的弟兄西拉的幫助下，我簡單地寫了這封信勸勉你們，並證明這是上帝真實的恩典。你們務要在這恩典上站穩。
13在巴比倫和你們一同蒙揀選的教會問候你們，我的兒子馬可也問候你們。 14你們要以愛心彼此親吻問候。
願平安歸給你們所有在基督裡的人！
