Romans 7

1 Is it not clear, my brothers (I am using an argument to those who have knowledge of the law), that the law has power over a man as long as he is living?

Do you not know, brethren, (for I speak to them who know law, ) that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

2 For the woman who has a husband is placed by the law under the power of her husband as long as he is living; but if her husband is dead, she is free from the law of the husband.

For the married woman is bound, by law, to her husband as long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is released from the law of her husband.

3 So if, while the husband is living, she is joined to another man, she will get the name of one who is untrue to her husband: but if the husband is dead, she is free from the law, so that she is not untrue, even if she takes another man.

If, then, indeed, while her husband lives, she be married to another, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from the law; so that she is not an adulteress, though married to another husband.

4 In the same way, my brothers, you were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, even to him who came again from the dead, so that we might give fruit to God.

Thus, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law, by the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, who rose from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit to God.

5 For when we were in the flesh, the evil passions which came into being through the law were working in our bodies to give the fruit of death.

For when we were in the flesh, our sinful passions which were through the law, wrought effectually in our members, to bring forth fruit to death.

6 But now we are free from the law, having been made dead to that which had power over us; so that we are servants in the new way of the spirit, not in the old way of the letter.

But now, having died with Christ, we are released from the law, by which we were held in bondage; so that we may serve God in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

7 What then is to be said? is the law sin? in no way. But I would not have had knowledge of sin but for the law: for I would not have been conscious of desire if the law had not said, You may not have a desire for what is another's.

What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? By no means. Indeed, I had not known sin, except by the law. For I had not known even inordinate desire, unless the law had said, "You shall not lust."

8 But sin, taking its chance through that which was ordered by the law, was working in me every form of desire: because without the law sin is dead.

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of inordinate desire: for without the law sin is dead.

9 And there was a time when I was living without the law: but when the law gave its orders, sin came to life and put me to death;

For I was alive, once, without the law: but when the commandment came, sin revived, but I died.

10 And I made the discovery that the law whose purpose was to give life had become a cause of death:

Yes, the commandment which was for live, the very same was found to be death to me.

11 For I was tricked and put to death by sin, which took its chance through the law.

For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12 But the law is holy, and its orders are holy, upright, and good.

Wherefore, the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.

13 Was then that which is good, death to me? In no way. But the purpose was that sin might be seen to be sin by working death to me through that which is good; so that through the orders of the law sin might seem much more evil.

Has, then, that which is good become death to me? By no means. But sin becomes death, in order that it might manifest itself, causing death to me by that which is good: so that sin, (through the commandment, ) might be an exceedingly great sinner.

14 For we are conscious that the law is of the spirit; but I am of the flesh, given into the power of sin.

Besides, we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 And I have no clear knowledge of what I am doing, for that which I have a mind to do, I do not, but what I have hate for, that I do.

For that which I do, I do not approve; since it is not what I desire that I do: but I do that which I hate.

16 But, if I do that which I have no mind to do, I am in agreement with the law that the law is good.

If, now, I do that which I do not desire, I consent to the law that it is good.

17 So it is no longer I who do it, but the sin living in me.

But now it is no longer I myself who do this; but sin which dwells in me.

18 For I am conscious that in me, that is, in my flesh, there is nothing good: I have the mind but not the power to do what is right.

For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, there dwells no good thing: for to desire what is good, is easy for me; but to do it, I find difficult.

19 For the good which I have a mind to do, I do not: but the evil which I have no mind to do, that I do.

For the good which I desire, that I do not: but the evil which I desire not, that I do.

20 But if I do what I have no mind to do, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin living in me.

Now, if I do that which I do not desire, it is no longer I who do it; but sin, which dwells in me.

21 So I see a law that, though I have a mind to do good, evil is present in me.

I find, then, that it is a law to me, when desirous to do good, that evil is near me.

22 In my heart I take pleasure in the law of God,

For I take pleasure in the law of God, as to the inner man:

23 But I see another law in my body, working against the law of my mind, and making me the servant of the law of sin which is in my flesh.

but I perceive another law, in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and making me a captive to the law of sin, which is in my members.

24 How unhappy am I! who will make me free from the body of this death?

Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?

25 I give praise to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So with my mind I am a servant to the law of God, but with my flesh to the law of sin.

I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Wherefore, then, indeed, I myself serve, with my mind, the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sin.