24 In fact, they had gone so far from the truth that they were like senseless children, worshiping the most worthless animals.
25 And so you made them look like stupid children, when you punished them.
26 Those who failed to take this warning seriously then received from you the punishment they deserved.
27 While they were being punished because of the creatures they had worshiped, they became angry with those creatures and finally realized that you are the only true God, even though they had always refused to worship you. All this explains why they were punished so terribly.