20 And the people, carried away by the beauty of the decoration, who had recently been revered as a man, now recognized him as a divinity.

21 And this was a stumbling block to men, because they, submitting either to misfortune or to tyranny, applied the incommunicable Name to stones and trees.

22 Then it was not enough for them to err in the knowledge of God, but they, living in the great struggle of ignorance, call such a great evil peace.

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.