1 Peter 2:4-12 - A Living Stone, A Chosen People
4 To whom approaching, a living stone, truly disapproved of by men, and chosen by God, highly valued, 5 And ye yourselves are built, as living stones, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to bring up spiritual sacrifice; acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it holds in the writing, Behold, I place in Zion a corner stone, chosen, highly valued: and he believing on him shall not be ashamed.
7 Therefore honour to you believing: and to the unbelieving, the stone which the builders disapproved of has become the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumble, and rock of offence, they disbelieving the word stumble: to which also they were set.
9 And ye a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for acquisition; so that ye should proclaim the excellencies of him having called you out of darkness into his wonderful light: 10 Who once not a people, and now the people of God: they not commiserated, and now commiserated.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech as sojourners and strangers, to keep off from fleshly passions, which war against the soul; 12 Having your turning back good in the nations: that, in what they speak against you as doing evil, from good works, they having beheld, might praise God in the day of inspection.