Romans 1:21-28 Now they knew who God was, but they did not honor Him as God or thank Him for their blessings. Instead they engaged in their useless speculations and their foolish minds were filled with spiritual darkness.

AUV⁽ⁱ⁾ ²¹ Now they knew who God was, but they did not honor Him as God or thank Him [for their blessings]. Instead they engaged in their useless speculations and their foolish minds were filled with [spiritual] darkness. ²² They claimed to be wise, but became fools, ²³ and exchanged the honor belonging to the immortal God for the statues of mortal men, and birds, and animals and reptiles. ²⁴ So, God allowed [or, abandoned] them to have the impure desires of their hearts, and to [practice] degrading behavior with their bodies among themselves. ²⁵ For they exchanged God’s truth for the [devil’s] lie, and worshiped and served what was created instead of the Creator, who is to be praised forever. May it be so. ²⁶ For this reason God allowed [or, abandoned] them to [practice] degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function [i.e., of sex] for what is against nature [i.e., lesbianism]. ²⁷ And men did the same thing, leaving the natural function [i.e., of sex] with women, and burning in their desire for each other. Men committed indecent [sexual] acts with other men [i.e., homosexuality], and [so] brought on themselves the penalty they deserved for this perversion. ²⁸ And since these people refused to acknowledge God, He has allowed [or, abandoned] them to have degraded minds and to practice those things which they should not do.