²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.^{(A) 22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools^{(B) 23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images^(C) made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over^(A) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

¹¹ For this reason God sends them^(A) a powerful delusion^(B) so that they will believe the lie^(C)

¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(A) deceiving and being deceived.^(B)

New International Version (NIV)

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