Now the menof Sodomwere wickedexceedinglyand sinnersagainst the LORD.
He was a mightyhunterbeforethe LORD;thereforeit is said,"Like Nimroda mightyhunterbeforethe LORD."
"Then in the fourthgenerationthey will returnhere,for the iniquityof the Amoriteis not yetcomplete."
And the LORDsaid,"The outcryof Sodomand Gomorrahis indeedgreat,and their sinis exceedinglygrave.
for we are about to destroythisplace,becausetheir outcryhas becomesogreatbeforethe LORDthat the LORDhas sentus to destroyit."
But Er,Judah'sfirstborn,was evilin the sightof the LORD,so the LORDtookhis life.
"Thereis noone greaterin thishousethanI, and he has withheldnothingfrom me exceptyou, becauseyou are his wife.Howthen could I dothisgreateviland sinagainst God?"
Now the earthwas corruptin the sightof God,and the earthwas filledwith violence.
He made his sonpassthrough the fire,practicedwitchcraftand useddivination,and dealtwith mediumsand spiritists.He didmuchevilin the sightof the LORDprovoking[Him to anger].
Unlessthe LORDof hostsHad leftus a fewsurvivors,We would be like Sodom,We would be likeGomorrah.
"Also among the prophetsof JerusalemI have seena horriblething:The committingof adulteryand walkingin falsehood;And they strengthenthe handsof evildoers,So that noonehas turnedbackfrom his wickedness.Allof them have becometo Me like Sodom,And her inhabitantslike Gomorrah.
"Can a manhidehimself in hidingplacesSo I do not seehim?" declaresthe LORD."Do I not fillthe heavensand the earth?"declaresthe LORD.
"But ifyou will not doso,behold,you have sinnedagainst the LORD,and be sureyour sinwill findyou out.
Thenit happenedthat as Jesuswas reclining[at the table] in the house,behold,manytax collectorsand sinnerscameand were diningwith Jesusand His disciples.
"But goand learnwhatthis means:I DESIRECOMPASSION,AND NOT SACRIFICE,'for I did not cometo callthe righteous,but sinners."
Soa second timethey calledthe manwhohad beenblind,and saidto him, "Givegloryto God;we knowthat thismanis a sinner."
"We knowthat Goddoes not hearsinners;but ifanyoneis God-fearingand doesHis will,He hearshim.
and in the same wayalsothe menabandonedthe naturalfunctionof the womanand burnedin their desiretowardone another,men with mencommittingindecent actsand receivingin their own personsthe duepenaltyof their error.
And there is nocreaturehiddenfrom His sight,but all thingsare openand laid bareto the eyesof Him with whomwe have to do.
and especiallythosewho indulgethe fleshin [its] corruptdesiresand despiseauthority.Daring,self-willed,they do not tremblewhen they revileangelic majesties,
justas Sodomand Gomorrahand the citiesaroundthem, since they in the samewayas theseindulged in gross immoralityand wentafterstrangeflesh,are exhibitedas an examplein undergoingthe punishmentof eternalfire.
and the LORDsentyou on a mission,and said,Goand utterlydestroythe sinners,the Amalekites,and fightagainst them untilthey are exterminated.'
Thus the sinof the youngmenwas verygreatbeforethe LORD,for the mendespisedthe offeringof the LORD.
