you also, like living stones, are being built(A) into a spiritual house[a](B) to be a holy priesthood,(C) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(D) For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,(E)
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”[b](F)

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(G)

“The stone the builders rejected(H)
    has become the cornerstone,”[c](I)

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](J)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(K)

But you are a chosen people,(L) a royal priesthood,(M) a holy nation,(N) God’s special possession,(O) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(P) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(Q) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

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