1 Peter 2:4-12 - A Living Stone, A Chosen People

⁴ Whom approaching, as the living stone, rejected indeed of men, but elect of God, and honourable, ⁵ ye also, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, well pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, "Behold, I lay in Sion a cornerstone, elect, precious, and the believer on him shall never be confounded."

⁷ By you therefore who believe is he honoured: but respecting the disobedient, "the stone which the builders rejected, this very stone is become the head of the corner,

⁸ and a stone of stumbling, and rock of offence," to those who stumble at the word, disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed.

⁹ But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired by purchase; that ye should publish abroad the excellencies of him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: ¹⁰ who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but are now the objects of mercy.

¹¹ Beloved, I exhort you, as strangers and sojourners, Abstain from carnal lusts, which war against the soul; ¹² having your conduct ornamental among the Gentiles: that, whereas they malign you as wicked doers, they may, being eye-witnesses of your good works, glorify God in the day when he visits them.