⁴² But God turned away from them^(A) and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars.^(B) This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:

³⁹ “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,^(A) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name^(B) with your gifts and idols.^(C)

¹³ The houses^(A) in Jerusalem and those of the kings of Judah will be defiled^(B) like this place, Topheth—all the houses where they burned incense on the roofs^(C) to all the starry hosts^(D) and poured out drink offerings^(E) to other gods.’”

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over^(A) in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.^{(B) 25} They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,^(C) and worshiped and served created things^(D) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.^(E) Amen.^(F)

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over^(G) to shameful lusts.^(H) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.^{(I) 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.^(J)

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

¹⁹ And when you look up to the sky and see the sun,^(A) the moon and the stars^(B)—all the heavenly array^(C)—do not be enticed^(D) into bowing down to them and worshiping^(E) things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

¹⁵ As has just been said:

¹⁶ Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?^{(B) 17} And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness?^(C)