⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.^{(A) 10} Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.^(B)