4 And coming to Him as to a livingstone which has been 8rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5
9you also, as livingstones, are being built up as a 10spiritualhouse for a holy11priesthood, to 12offer up spiritualsacrificesacceptable to GodthroughJesusChrist.
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For this is contained in Scripture: "13BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICESTONE, A 14PRECIOUSCORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
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15Thispreciousvalue, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "16THE STONEWHICH THE BUILDERS17REJECTED, THISBECAME THE VERYCORNER stone,"
8
and, "18A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE "; 19for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, 20and to this doom they were alsoappointed.
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But you are 21A CHOSENRACE, A royal22PRIESTHOOD, A 23HOLYNATION, 24A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you 25out of darkness into His marvelouslight;
10
26for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVEDMERCY, but now you have RECEIVEDMERCY.
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27Beloved, 28I urge you as 29aliens and strangers to abstain from 30fleshlylustswhichwage31waragainst the soul.
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32Keep your behaviorexcellentamong the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they 33slander you as evildoers, they may because of your gooddeeds, as they observe them, 34glorifyGod35in the day of visitation.
Honor Authority
1336Submit yourselves for the Lord'ssake to everyhumaninstitution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
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or to governors as sent by him 37for the punishment of evildoers and the 38praise of those who doright.
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For 39such is the will of God that by doingright you may 40silence the ignorance of foolishmen.
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Act as 41freemen, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as 42bondslaves of God.
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43Honorallpeople, 44love the brotherhood, 45fearGod, 46honor the king.
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47Servants, be submissive to your masters with allrespect, not only to those who are good and 48gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
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For this finds favor, if for the sake of 49conscience toward God a personbears up undersorrows when sufferingunjustly.
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For whatcredit is there if, when you sin and are harshlytreated, you endure it with patience? But if50when you do what is right and suffer for it you patientlyendure it, this finds favor with God.
Christ Is Our Example
21 For 51you have been called for this purpose, 52sinceChristalsosuffered for you, leaving you 53an example for you to follow in His steps,
22
WHO54COMMITTEDNOSIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEITFOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
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and while being 55reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He utterednothreats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judgesrighteously;
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and He Himself56bore our sins in His body on the 57cross, so that we 58might die to sin and live to righteousness; for 59by His wounds you were 60healed.
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For you were 61continually strayinglikesheep, but now you have returned to the 62Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.