4. coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
5. You also, as living stones, are built up as 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 cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”
7. For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,”
8. and, “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
9. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10. who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11. Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12. having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13. Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
14. or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.
15. For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16. as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
17. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
18. Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.
19. For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.