⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by ^(A)philosophy and ^(B)empty deceit, according to ^(C)human tradition, according to the ^(D)elemental spirits^[a] of the world, and not according to Christ.

²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they ^(A)became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ^22 (B)Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and ^(C)exchanged the glory of ^(D)the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

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

²⁶ For this reason ^(I)God gave them up to ^(J)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, ^(K)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, ^(L)God gave them up to ^(M)a debased mind to do ^(N)what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹ foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³² Though they know ^(O)God's righteous decree that those who practice such things ^(P)deserve to die, they not only do them but ^(Q)give approval to those who practice them.

¹⁵ Forsaking the right way, ^(A)they have gone astray. They have followed ^(B)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved ^(C)gain from wrongdoing, ¹⁶ but was rebuked for his own transgression; ^(D)a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

^17 (E)These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. ^(F)For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, ^(G)speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely ^(H)escaping from those who live in error.