²¹ For even though they knew God, they did not ^[a]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became ^(A)futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. ^22 (B)Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and they ^(C)exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible mankind, of birds, four-footed animals, and ^[b]crawling creatures.

²⁴ Therefore ^(D)God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts, so that their bodies would be ^(E)dishonored among them. ²⁵ For they exchanged the truth of God for ^[c](F)falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, ^(G)who is blessed ^[d]forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason ^(H)God gave them over to ^(I)degrading passions; for their women exchanged natural relations for that which is contrary to nature, ²⁷ and likewise the men, too, abandoned natural relations ^[e]with women and burned in their desire toward one another, ^(J)males with males committing ^[f]shameful acts and receiving in ^[g]their own persons the due penalty of their error.

²⁸ And just as they did not see fit ^[h]to acknowledge God, ^(K)God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper, ²⁹ people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are ^(L)gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, ^[i](M)haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, ^(N)disobedient to parents, ³¹ without understanding, untrustworthy, ^(O)unfeeling, and unmerciful; ³² and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of ^(P)death, they not only do the same, but also ^(Q)approve of those who practice them.

⁹ Or ^(A)do you not know that the unrighteous will not ^(B)inherit the kingdom of God? ^(C)Do not be deceived; ^(D)neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor ^[a]homosexuals, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will ^(E)inherit the kingdom of God. ^11 (F)Such were some of you; but you were ^(G)washed, but you were ^(H)sanctified, but you were ^(I)justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and ^[b]in the Spirit of our God.

¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^(A)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, ²⁰ idolatry, ^(B)witchcraft, hostilities, ^(C)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^(D)selfish ambition, dissensions, ^(E)factions, ²¹ envy, ^(F)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not ^(G)inherit the kingdom of God.

²⁵ Therefore, ^(A)ridding yourselves of falsehood, ^(B)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are ^(C)parts of one another. ^26 (D)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not ^(E)give the devil ^[a]an opportunity. ²⁸ The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather ^(F)he must labor, ^(G)producing with his own hands what is good, ^(H)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. ²⁹ Let no ^[b](I)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for ^(J)edification ^[c]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ^30 (K)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^[d]by whom you were ^(L)sealed for the day of redemption. ^31 (M)All bitterness, wrath, anger, ^[e]clamor, and slander must be ^(N)removed from you, along with all ^(O)malice. ^32 (P)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, ^(Q)just as God in Christ also has forgiven ^[f]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 ^(R)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and ^(S)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(T)loved ^[g]you and ^(U)gave Himself up for us, an ^(V)offering and a sacrifice to God ^[h]as a ^(W)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(X)sexual immorality ^[i]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among ^[j]saints; ⁴ and there must be no ^(Y)filthiness ^[k]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(Z)are not fitting, but rather ^(AA)giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(AB)no sexually immoral or ^[l]impure or greedy person, which ^[m]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(AC)of Christ and God.