Folly of the Godless, and God’s Final Triumph^(A)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

Folly of the Godless, and the Restoration of Israel^(A)

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath.” A ^[a]Contemplation of David.

¹⁰ As it is written:

By Grace Through Faith

2 And ^(A)you He made alive, ^(B)who were dead in trespasses and sins, ^2 (C)in which you once walked according to the ^[a]course of this world, according to ^(D)the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in ^(E)the sons of disobedience, ^3 (F)among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in ^(G)the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and ^(H)were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but ^(A)became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ^22 (B)Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the ^(C)incorruptible ^(D)God into an image made like ^[a]corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

^24 (E)Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, ^(F)to dishonor their bodies ^(G)among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged ^(H)the truth of God ^(I)for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to ^(J)vile passions. For even their ^[b]women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the ^[c]men, leaving the natural use of the ^[d]woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things ^(K)which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, ^[e]sexual immorality, wickedness, ^[f]covetousness, ^[g]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ^31 [h]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, ^[i]unforgiving, unmerciful; ³² who, ^(L)knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things ^(M)are deserving of death, not only do the same but also ^(N)approve of those who practice them.

⁵ Then ^[a]the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every ^(A)intent^[b] of the thoughts of his heart was only evil ^[c]continually.

^34 (A)Brood^[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? ^(B)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.