But you will be calledthe priestsof the LORD;You will be spokenof [as] ministersof our God.You will eatthe wealthof nations,And in their richesyou will boast.
and you shall be to Me a kingdomof priestsand a holynation.'Theseare the wordsthat you shall speakto the sonsof Israel."
you also,as livingstones,are being builtup as a spiritualhousefor a holypriesthood,to offerup spiritualsacrificesacceptableto GodthroughJesusChrist.
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
"I will alsotakesomeof them for priests[and] for Levites,"saysthe LORD.
Blessedand holyis the one who hasa partin the firstresurrection;overthesethe seconddeathhasnopower,but they will be priestsof Godand of Christand will reignwith Him for a thousandyears.
"You have madethem [to be] a kingdomand prieststo our God;and they will reignupon the earth."
Are they servantsof Christ?--I speakas if insane--I more so;in far morelabors,in far moreimprisonments,beatentimes without number,oftenin danger of death.
Let a manregardus in this manner,as servantsof Christand stewardsof the mysteriesof God.
but in everythingcommendingourselvesas servantsof God,in muchendurance,in afflictions,in hardships,in distresses,
Whatthenis Apollos?And whatis Paul?Servantsthroughwhomyou believed,evenas the Lordgave[opportunity] to each one.
ThereforeI urgeyou, brethren,by the merciesof God,to presentyour bodiesa livingand holysacrifice,acceptableto God,[which is] your spiritualservice of worship.
in orderthat the houseof Israelmay nolongerstrayfrom Me and nolongerdefilethemselves with alltheir transgressions.Thus they will be My people,and I shall be their God,"' declaresthe LordGOD."
For thussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I extendpeaceto her like a river,And the gloryof the nationslike an overflowingstream;And you will be nursed,you will be carriedon the hipand fondledon the knees.
Her gainand her harlot'swageswill be setapartto the LORD;it will not be storedup or hoarded,but her gainwill becomesufficientfoodand choiceattirefor those who dwellin the presenceof the LORD.
and He has madeus [to be] a kingdom,prieststo His Godand Father--to Him [be] the gloryand the dominionforever and ever.Amen.
"Also the foreignerswho jointhemselves to the LORD,To ministerto Him, and to lovethe nameof the LORD,To be His servants,everyonewho keepsfrom profaningthe sabbathAnd holdsfastMy covenant;
"They shall havenoinheritanceamongtheir countrymen;the LORDis their inheritance,as He promisedthem.
"For you will spreadabroadto the rightand to the left.And your descendantswill possessnationsAnd will resettlethe desolatecities.
and the Leviticalpriestsshall neverlacka manbeforeMe to offerburntofferings,to burngrain offeringsand to preparesacrificescontinually.'"
