6 For it is contained in Scripture:Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Himwill never be put to shame!
7 So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving,The stone that the builders rejected —this One has become the cornerstone,
8 andA stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darknessinto His marvelous light.
10 Once you were not a people,but now you are God’s people;you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.
12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.