23 Performing either infanticidal sacrifices, or hidden secrets, or furious feasts borrowed from foreign customs,

24 They do not preserve life, nor pure marriages, but one either kills another with deceit, or offends with adultery.

25 And blood and murder, embeticle and deceit, corruption, treachery, rebellion, perjury, plundering of goods, possess all without distinction,

26 Forgetfulness of gratitude, defilement of souls, transformation of sexes, disorder of marriages, adultery, and lasciviousness.

27 The service of idols unworthy of name is the beginning, and the cause, and the end of all evil,

28 For they are either rejoicing and raging, or prophesying a lie, or living iniquity, or speedily breaking their oath.

29 Trusting in soulless idols, they do not think of being punished for swearing unjustly.

30 But for both these things shall come condemnation upon them, and because they have thought wickedly of God, turning to idols, and because they have sworn falsely, deceitfully despising the holy.

31 For it is not the power of those by whom they swear, but the judgment of those who sin always follows the transgression of the unrighteous.

Chapter 15

1 But thou, our God, art good and true, long-suffering, and governest all things mercifully.

2 If we sin, we are thine, acknowledging thy authority; but we will not sin, knowing that we are recognized as Thine.

3 To know Thee is complete righteousness, and to acknowledge Thy authority is the root of immortality.

4 We are not deceived by the evil invention of man, nor by the fruitless labor of artists, images speckled with various colors,