Romans 7

1 ARE you unacquainted, brethren, (for I am speaking to those who know the law, ) that the law exercises dominion over a person for as long time as he liveth?

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?

2 For the woman who is subject to a husband, is bound by the law to that husband during his life; but if the husband be dead, she is discharged from that husband.

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.

3 She shall therefore certainly be counted an adulteress, if, her husband being alive, she be for another man: but if her husband is dead, she is free from the law; so that she shall be no adulteress, though married to another husband.

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.

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye might be for another, who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit for God.

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.

5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions excited by the law, wrought powerfully in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death.

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.

6 But now we have been discharged from the law, that being dead by which we were held fast; that we should serve in renovation of spirit, and not in the antiquity of the letter.

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.

7 What then shall we say? Is the law sin? God forbid. Yea, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not even known concupiscence, unless the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

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.

8 But sin, seizing the opportunity by the law, wrought in me all concupiscence. For without the law sin is dead.

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.

9 For though I lived without the law formerly; yet when the commandment came, sin revived, but I died.

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;

10 And the commandment, which was for life, the same was found by me for death.

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

11 For sin, seizing the occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and thereby slew me.

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

12 So then the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

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

13 Did then that which is good become fatal to me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin by that which was good in itself, was the cause of death to me; that sin through the commandment might become transcendantly sinful.

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.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am fleshly, sold under sin.

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

15 For that which I am doing I approve not: for not the thing which I wish, that do I practise; but the very thing I hate, that I do.

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.

16 But if what I would not, that I do, I concur with the law that it is excellent.

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

17 Now then no more I do this, but sin dwelling in me.

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

18 For I know that there dwelleth not in me (that is, in my flesh) any good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

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.

19 For I do not the good which I wish: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

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.

20 If then I do that which I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

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.

21 I find then a law, that, when I wish to do good, evil is presented to me.

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

22 For I am delighted with the law of God, as respecting the inward man:

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

23 but I see another law in my members, militating against the law in my mind, and making me captive to the law of sin which is in my members.

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.

24 O wretched man, I! who shall pluck me from the body of this death?

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

25 I give thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well then, I myself with my mind am servant to the law of God; but in my flesh to the law of sin.

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.