1 Peter 2:4–12

⁴To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with God chosen, precious, ⁵yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. ⁶Because it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame. ⁷To you therefore who believe is the preciousness; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders cast away as worthless, this is become head of the corner, ⁸and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; who stumble at the word, being disobedient to which also they have been appointed. ⁹But ye are a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light; ¹⁰who once were not a people, but now God’s people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy. ¹¹Beloved, I exhort you, as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; ¹²having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that as to that in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may through your good works, themselves witnessing them, glorify God in the day of visitation.