Helping Christian Leaders
1 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 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 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 Be humble in the presence of God's mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. 7 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 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 Greetings from the Lord's followers in Babylon. 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.
Kerkheb ǂgaeǂgui-aogu ǃoa hâ ǀapemās
1 Tita hîa ǂnomdomta,* Xristub* tsâgu di ǃkhō-amaota tsî ǁkhāti ǂhaiǂhaihe nî ǂkhaisib ǃnâ nî amǃnâxata ge ǀhûǃoaba-aose sadu ǁaegu hâ ǂnomdomga ra ǁnama:
2 Elob di gūn sago ǂgomǃgâbahe hâna ǃûi, ǁgarisa xu tama i tsî māsenxase. ǁKhāti taotaosa hōbasen-i ǃaroma tama, xawe ǂgaob hoaba xu, 3 Elob di kerkheba ra gaoǂamse tama, xawe gūn di aiǁgause. 4 Tsî ǂAmǃûi-aob ga ǂhaio, o go ge ǁgaoǁoasa krons ǂkhaisib disa nî hō.
5 ǁNās ǁkhās xase sadu ǂkhamdo kaikhoena ǃnaka hâba, î du hoado ǃnaka hâbagu, î du ǃgamǃgamsensa ana: “Elob ge ǃguriǂgaoxa khoena ra mâǃoa, xaweb ge ǃgamǃgamsen rana ǀkhomma ra mā.”
6 ǃGamǃgamsen ǁnâi re Elob di ǀgaisa ǃommi ǃnaka, îb ǁîb di ǁaeb ai ǀgapiǀgapi du. 7 Sadu ǂhansende ǁîba ǁgui-ai, ǁîb sado ra ǂhansenba xuige.
8 ǃGāsase tsî ǂkhaikari hâ, sadu di mâǃoasabeb ǁgâuab* ge ǃguru ra xammi ase ǃgûma tsî mâ-eb nî hapu ǃkhaisa ra ôa xuige. 9 ǁÎba mâǃoa ǂgoms ǃnâ ǁapo hâse, ǂan du a xui-ao nau ǂgomsaben ǃhūbaib ai hân hoan tsîn ra ǁnāti ī tsâgu ǃnâ ǃkharu ǃkhaisa. 10 Xawe ǂkharirose du tsâ hâ hîab ge ǀkhommi di Elob, ǁîb di ǀamo ǂkhaisib Jesub Xristub ǃnâ hâb ǃoa ǂgai du hâba ǀgaiǀgai, ǁapoǁapo tsî nî ǃgaoǃgao du. 11 ǁÎba ab ǀgaiba ūhâ ǀamosib kōse. Amen.*
ǀUni tawedes
12 Silvanub, ǂgomǂgomsa ǃgâsab ǀkha ta ge ǂâi ta ra khami ǀnîrona ge xoa, ǁnama tsî ra ǃkhō-amǃâ, nē ǀkhommi Elob dib, ǁîb ǃnâ du mâb a ama-ai ǃkhaisa. 13 Sadu ǃgâsa kerkheb nēpa Babilons ǃnâ hâb tsî ti ôab Markub tsîn ge ra tawede du. 14 Tawedegu du re ǃanu ǁoas ǀnammi dis ǀkha.
ǂKhîba ab sadu Xristub ǃnâ hâdu hoadu ǀkha hâ!
