God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 For (A)the wrath of God (B)is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be (C)known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, (D)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 (E)became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 (F)Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and (G)exchanged the glory of (H)the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

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

26 For this reason (M)God gave them up to (N)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, (O)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, (P)God gave them up to (Q)a debased mind to do (R)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 (S)God's righteous decree that those who practice such things (T)deserve to die, they not only do them but (U)give approval to those who practice them.

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Footnotes

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

The Guilt of the Gentile World

18 For God’s wrath(A) is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,(B) 19 since what can be known[a] about God is evident among them,(C) because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world,(D) being understood through what he has made.(E) As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.(F) 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools(G) 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.(H)

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts(I) to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,(J) and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever.(K) Amen.

From Idolatry to Depravity

26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions.(L) Their women[b] exchanged natural sexual relations[c] for unnatural ones. 27 The men[d] in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men(M) and received in their own persons[e] the appropriate penalty of their error.

28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness,[f] evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,(N) 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful,(O) inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,(P) 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving,[g](Q) and unmerciful. 32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die[h](R)—they not only do them, but even applaud[i](S) others who practice them.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:19 Or what is known
  2. 1:26 Lit females, also in v. 27
  3. 1:26 Lit natural use, also in v. 27
  4. 1:27 Lit males, also later in v.
  5. 1:27 Or in themselves
  6. 1:29 Other mss add sexual immorality
  7. 1:31 Other mss add unforgiving
  8. 1:32 Lit things are worthy of death
  9. 1:32 Lit even take pleasure in