And comingto Him as to a livingstonewhich has been rejectedby men,but is choiceand preciousin the sightof God,
Thereforethussaysthe LordGOD,"Behold,I am layingin Ziona stone,a testedstone,A costlycornerstone[for] the foundation,firmlyplaced.He who believes[in it] will not be disturbed.
"Behold,My Servant,whom I uphold;My chosenone [in whom] My souldelights.I have putMy Spiritupon Him; He will bringforthjusticeto the nations.
"Inclineyour earand cometo Me. Listen,that you may live;And I will makean everlastingcovenantwith you, [According to] the faithfulmerciesshown to David.
"Return,O faithlesssons,I will healyour faithlessness.""Behold,we cometo You; For You are the LORDour God.
"You continuedlookinguntila stonewas cutout withouthands,and it struckthe statueon its feetof ironand clayand crushedthem.
"Inasmuchas you sawthat a stonewas cutout of the mountainwithouthandsand that it crushedthe iron,the bronze,the clay,the silverand the gold,the greatGodhas madeknownto the kingwhatwill takeplacein the future;so the dreamis true and its interpretationis trustworthy."
For behold,the stonethat I have setbeforeJoshua;on onestoneare seveneyes.Behold,I will engravean inscriptionon it,' declaresthe LORDof hosts,and I will removethe iniquityof that landin oneday.
Whatare you, O greatmountain?BeforeZerubbabel[you will become] a plain;and he will bringforththe topstonewith shoutsof "Grace,graceto it!"'"
"Cometo Me, allwho are wearyand heavy-laden,and I will give you rest.
"BEHOLD,MY SERVANTWHOMI HAVE CHOSEN;MY BELOVEDIN WHOMMY SOULis WELL-PLEASED;I WILL PUTMY SPIRITUPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIMJUSTICETO THE GENTILES.
Jesussaidto them, "Did you neverreadin the Scriptures,THE STONEWHICHTHE BUILDERSREJECTED,THISBECAMETHE CHIEFCORNER[stone]; THISCAMEABOUT FROM THE LORD,AND IT IS MARVELOUSIN OUR EYES'?
"Aftera little whilethe worldwill no longerseeMe, but you [will] seeMe; becauseI live,you will livealso.
Jesussaidto him, "I amthe way,and the truth,and the life;no onecomesto the Fatherbut throughMe.
"For justas the Fatherhaslifein Himself,evensoHe gaveto the Sonalsoto havelifein Himself;
and you are unwillingto cometo Me sothat you may havelife.
"Allthat the FathergivesMe will cometo Me, and the one who comesto Me I will certainlynot castout.
"As the livingFathersentMe, and I livebecauseof the Father,sohe who eatsMe, he alsowill livebecauseof Me.
For ifwhile we were enemieswe were reconciledto Godthroughthe deathof His Son,muchmore,having been reconciled,we shall be savedby His life.
For no mancanlaya foundationotherthanthe one which is laid,whichis JesusChrist.
WhenChrist,who is our life,is revealed,thenyou alsowill be revealedwith Him in glory.
but with preciousblood,as of a lambunblemishedand spotless,[the blood] of Christ.
sothat the proofof your faith,[being] more preciousthan goldwhich is perishable,even thoughtestedby fire,may be foundto resultin praiseand gloryand honorat the revelationof JesusChrist;
Thisprecious value,then,is for you who believe;but for thosewho disbelieve,"THE STONEWHICHTHE BUILDERSREJECTED,THISBECAMETHE VERYCORNER[stone],"
SimonPeter,a bond-servantand apostleof JesusChrist,To thosewho have receiveda faithof the same kindas ours,by the righteousnessof our Godand Savior,JesusChrist:
For by theseHe has grantedto us His preciousand magnificentpromises,sothat by them you may becomepartakersof [the] divinenature,having escapedthe corruptionthat is in the worldby lust.
