²⁴ Therefore ^(A)God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to ^(B)the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

^24 (A)But they did not obey or incline their ear, ^(B)but walked in their own counsels and ^(C)the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and ^(D)went backward and not forward.

⁴² But ^(A)God turned away and ^(B)gave them over to worship ^(C)the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

²⁶ For this reason ^(A)God gave them up to ^(B)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, ^(C)men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Do Not Go Down to Egypt

⁹ The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan ^(A)with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with all wicked deception for ^(B)those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ Therefore ^(C)God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe ^(D)what is false,

¹⁶ In past generations he ^(A)allowed all the nations ^(B)to walk in their own ways.

¹⁶ “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, ^(A)we will not listen to you. ^17 (B)But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to ^(C)the queen of heaven ^(D)and pour out drink offerings to her, ^(E)as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster.