¹⁸ nor will the Levitical^(A) priests^(B) ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.^(C)’”

⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests^(A) to serve his God and Father^(B)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.^(C)

⁹ But you are a chosen people,^(A) a royal priesthood,^(B) a holy nation,^(C) God’s special possession,^(D) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.^(E)

⁵ 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)

¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice^(A) of praise—the fruit of lips^(B) that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others,^(C) for with such sacrifices^(D) God is pleased.

¹⁶ to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.^(A) He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,^(B) so that the Gentiles might become an offering^(C) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.^(A)

⁵ An area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide will belong to the Levites, who serve in the temple, as their possession for towns to live in.^[a](A)