Israel at Mount Sinai

19 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they ^(A)came into the wilderness of Sinai. ² They set out from ^(B)Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before ^(C)the mountain, ³ while ^(D)Moses went up to God. ^(E)The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ^4 (F)‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how ^(G)I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be ^(H)my treasured possession among all peoples, for ^(I)all the earth is mine; ⁶ and you shall be to me a ^(J)kingdom of priests and ^(K)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

⁴ As you come to him, a living stone ^(A)rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ^5 (B)you yourselves like living stones are being built up as ^(C)a spiritual house, to be ^(D)a holy priesthood, ^(E)to offer spiritual sacrifices ^(F)acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

⁷ So the honor is for you who ^(I)believe, but for those who ^(J)do not believe,

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the word, ^(M)as they were destined to do.

⁹ But you are ^(N)a chosen race, ^(O)a royal ^(P)priesthood, ^(Q)a holy nation, ^(R)a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you ^(S)out of darkness into ^(T)his marvelous light. ^10 (U)Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.