The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.

This was done by the LORD; what a wonderful sight it is!

This, now, is what the Sovereign LORD says: "I am placing in Zion a foundation that is firm and strong. In it I am putting a solid cornerstone on which are written the words, 'Faith that is firm is also patient.'

Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read what the Scriptures say? 'The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all. This was done by the Lord; what a wonderful sight it is!'

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Surely you have read this scripture? 'The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.

The Jewish leaders tried to arrest Jesus, because they knew that he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

"He will come and kill those men, and turn the vineyard over to other tenants." When the people heard this, they said, "Surely not!"

Everyone who falls on that stone will be cut to pieces; and if that stone falls on someone, that person will be crushed to dust."

For the scripture says, "I chose a valuable stone, which I am placing as the cornerstone in Zion; and whoever believes in him will never be disappointed."

And another scripture says, "This is the stone that will make people stumble, the rock that will make them fall." They stumbled because they did not believe in the word; such was God's will for them.

Was there any prophet that your ancestors did not persecute? They killed God's messengers, who long ago announced the coming of his righteous Servant. And now you have betrayed and murdered him.

So I solemnly declare to you this very day: if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible.

For I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.

The wicked run when no one is chasing them, but an honest person is as brave as a lion.

The LORD says, "Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins!

They worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to know my ways and obey my laws. They say they want me to give them just laws and that they take pleasure in worshiping me."

"But you, mortal man, must not be afraid of them or of anything they say. They will defy and despise you; it will be like living among scorpions. Still, don't be afraid of those rebels or of anything they say.

You will tell them whatever I tell you to say, whether they listen or not. Remember what rebels they are.

But none of the people of Israel will be willing to listen; they will not even listen to me. All of them are stubborn and defiant.

I will make you as firm as a rock, as hard as a diamond; don't be afraid of those rebels."

Then go to the people of your nation who are in exile and tell them what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying to them, whether they pay attention to you or not."

"Now, mortal man, I am making you a lookout for the nation of Israel. You must pass on to them the warnings I give you.

If you do warn an evil person and he doesn't stop sinning, he will die, still a sinner, but your life will be spared."

Because we have this hope, we are very bold.

God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we do not become discouraged.

I am placing in front of Joshua a single stone with seven facets. I will engrave an inscription on it, and in a single day I will take away the sin of this land.

The angel told me to give Zerubbabel this message from the LORD: "You will succeed, not by military might or by your own strength, but by my spirit.

Obstacles as great as mountains will disappear before you. You will rebuild the Temple, and as you put the last stone in place, the people will shout, 'Beautiful, beautiful!' "

You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself.

In union with him you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through his Spirit.