A Living Stone, a Chosen People

2:4 So as you come to him,9 a living stone rejected by men but10 chosen and priceless11 in God’s sight, 2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer12 spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 2:6 For it says13 in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone,14 and whoever believes15 in him16 will never17 be put to shame.”18 2:7 So you who believe see19 his value,20 but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the21 cornerstone,22 2:8 and a stumbling-stone23 and a rock to trip over.24 They stumble25 because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.26 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues27 of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2:10 You28 once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy,29 but now you have received mercy.

2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 2:12 and maintain good conduct30 among the non-Christians,31 so that though32 they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.33