20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, (A)have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they (B)became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 (C)Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and (D)exchanged the glory of (E)the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore (F)God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to (G)the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for (H)a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, (I)who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason (J)God gave them up to (K)dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, (L)men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, (M)God gave them up to (N)a debased mind to do (O)what ought not to be done.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:20 Or clearly perceived from the creation of the world

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,(A) so that people are without excuse.(B)

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.(C) 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools(D) 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images(E) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over(F) in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.(G) 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,(H) and worshiped and served created things(I) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.(J) Amen.(K)

26 Because of this, God gave them over(L) to shameful lusts.(M) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.(N) 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.(O)

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over(P) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

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