1 And I, an Elder, your associate, and a witness of the sufferings of the Messiah, and a participator in his glory which is to be revealed, entreat the Elders who are among you:
2 Feed ye the flock of God which is committed to you: have care [for it], spiritually; not from compulsion, but voluntarily; not for base gain, but with all your heart;
3 not as lords of the flock, but so as to be a good example for them:
4 that when the chief shepherd shall be revealed, ye may receive from him a crown of glory that fadeth not.
5 And ye juniors submit yourselves to your seniors; and clothe yourselves, stringently, with lowliness of mind one towards another; because God resisteth them who exalt themselves, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the powerful hand of God: and it will exalt you in due time.
7 And cast all your solicitude upon God; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober and guarded, because Satan your adversary, like a lion, roareth, and goeth about, and seeketh whom he may devour.
9 Therefore resist him, being steadfast in the faith: and know ye, that the same sufferings befall your brethren that are in the world.
10 Now it is the God of grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Jesus the Messiah, that hath given us, while we sustain these light afflictions, to be strengthened, and confirmed, and established by him for ever:
11 to whom be glory, and power, and honor, for ever and ever. Amen.
12 These as I account [them] few [things], I have written to you by Sylvanus, a faithful brother. And I would persuade, and would testify, that this is the true grace of God, this in which ye stand.
13 The elect church which is in Babylon, saluteth you; also Mark, my son.
14 Salute ye one another with a holy kiss. Peace be with you all, who are in the Messiah. Amen.
End of the first Epistle of Peter the Legate.
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