5. ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6. Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
7. For you therefore which believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;
8. and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9. But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may shew forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10. which in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11. Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12. having your behaviour seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13. Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14. or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.
15. For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16. as free, and not using your freedom for a cloke of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.