^5 (A)(B) Now if you will faithfully obey me, you will be my very own people. The whole world is mine,

^6 (A) but you will be my holy nation and serve me as priests.

Moses, that is what you must tell the Israelites.

^20 (A) But you are the Lord's people, because he rescued you from Egypt, that fiery furnace.

The Lord's Chosen People

Moses said:

^6 (A) Israel, you are the chosen people of the Lord your God. There are many nations on this earth, but he chose only Israel to be his very own.

^18 (A) Since you have agreed to obey the Lord, he has agreed that you will be his people and that you will belong to him, just as he promised.

^14 (A) He gave himself to rescue us from everything evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right.

^9 (A) But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things he has done. The Scriptures say,