For even though they knewGod,they did not honorHim as Godorgive thanks,but they became futilein their speculations,and their foolishheartwas darkened.
They rejectedHis statutesand His covenantwhichHe madewith their fathersand His warningswith whichHe warnedthem. And they followedvanityand becamevain,and [went] afterthe nationswhichsurroundedthem, concerning whichthe LORDhad commandedthem not to dolike them.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Whatinjusticedid your fathersfindin Me, That they wentfarfrom Me And walkedafteremptinessand becameempty?
"He who offersa sacrificeof thanksgivinghonorsMe; And to him who orders[his] way[aright] I shall showthe salvationof God."
For menwill be lovers of self,lovers of money,boastful,arrogant,revilers,disobedientto parents,ungrateful,unholy,
and he saidwith a loudvoice,"FearGod,and giveHim glory,becausethe hourof His judgmenthas come;worshipHim who madethe heavenand the earthand seaand springsof waters."
"Thisis the judgment,that the Lighthas comeinto the world,and menlovedthe darknessratherthanthe Light,for their deedswere evil.
"Whowill not fear,O Lord,and glorifyYour name?For You aloneare holy;For ALLTHE NATIONSWILL COMEAND WORSHIPBEFOREYOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTSHAVE BEEN REVEALED."
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
"So I gavethem overto the stubbornnessof their heart,To walkin their own devices.
O LORD,my strengthand my stronghold,And my refugein the dayof distress,To You the nationswill comeFrom the endsof the earthand say,"Our fathershave inheritednothingbut falsehood,Futilityand thingsof noprofit."
"LET THEIR EYESBE DARKENEDTO SEENOT, AND BENDTHEIR BACKSFOREVER."
And justas they did not see fitto acknowledgeGodany longer, Godgave them overto a depravedmind,to dothosethings which are not proper,
becausethat which is knownabout Godis evidentwithinthem; for Godmade it evidentto them.
and for the Gentilesto glorifyGodfor His mercy;as it is written,"THEREFOREI WILL GIVE PRAISETO YOU AMONGTHE GENTILES,AND I WILL SINGTO YOUR NAME."
to opentheir eyesso that they may turnfrom darknessto lightand from the dominionof Satanto God,that they may receiveforgivenessof sinsand an inheritanceamongthosewho have been sanctifiedby faithin Me.'
"For she does not knowthat it was I who gaveher the grain,the newwineand the oil,And lavishedon her silverand gold,[Which] they usedfor Baal.
"For behold,darknesswill coverthe earthAnd deepdarknessthe peoples;But the LORDwill riseupon you And His glorywill appearupon you.
AllnationswhomYou have madeshall comeand worshipbeforeYou, O Lord,And they shall glorifyYour name.
knowingthat you were not redeemedwith perishable thingslike silverorgoldfrom your futileway of lifeinherited from your forefathers,
"Behold,I have foundonlythis,that Godmademenupright,but they have soughtout manydevices."
and you will gropeat noon,as the blindmangropesin darkness,and you will not prosperin your ways;but you shall onlybe oppressedand robbedcontinually,with noneto saveyou.
The LORDsmelledthe soothingaroma;and the LORDsaidto Himself,"I will neveragaincursethe groundon accountof man,for the intentof man'sheartis evilfrom his youth;and I will neveragaindestroyeverylivingthing,as I have done.
Then the LORDsawthat the wickednessof manwas greaton the earth,and that everyintentof the thoughtsof his heartwas onlyevilcontinually.
Now the servantsof the kingof Aramsaidto him, "Their godsare godsof the mountains,thereforethey were strongerthanwe; but ratherlet us fightagainstthem in the plain,[and] surelywe will be strongerthanthey.
but have walkedafterthe stubbornnessof their heartand afterthe Baals,as their fatherstaughtthem,"
"The heartis moredeceitfulthanallelse And is desperatelysick;Whocan understandit?
"I alsogavethem statutesthat were not goodand ordinancesby which they could not live;
in orderto layholdof the heartsof the houseof Israelwhoare estrangedfrom Me through alltheir idols."'
