1 Peter 2:4–10

⁴You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God. ⁵You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ. ⁶That is why Scripture says, 

“I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion, 

and the person who believes in him 

will never be ashamed.” 

⁷This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don’t believe: 

“The stone that the builders rejected 

has become the cornerstone, 

⁸a stone that people trip over, 

a large rock that people find offensive.” 

The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up. 

⁹However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.