Romans 7

1 Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men that know the law), how that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth?

Surely, brothers, you know (for I am speaking to those who know what law means) that law governs a person only during his lifetime?

2 For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.

For a married woman who has a husband is bound by law to her husband during his lifetime; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.

3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.

So then, if during her husband lifetime, she unites herself with another man, she will be counted an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the Law, so that she is no adulteress, even if she unites herself with another man.

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, [even] to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.

So also, my brother, you were made dead to the Law through the body of Christ; that you should be joined to another, even to Him who was raised from the dead that we might bear fruit for God.

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

For while we were unspiritual, the sinful passions, aroused by the Law, were ever active in every part of our bodies, leading us to bear fruit unto death.

6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were holden; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

But now we have been released from the Law, because we are dead to that in which we were held; so that we are now in thraldom in new and spiritual conditions, and not under the old written code.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:

What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Certainly not. On the contrary I should not have become acquainted with sin had it not been for the Law; for except the Law had repeatedly said, "Thou shalt not lust," I should never have known the sin of lust.

8 but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin [is] dead.

But when sin had gained a vantage-ground, by means of the commandment, it stirred up within me all manner of lust; for where there is no law, sin is dead.

9 And I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died;

Once I lived apart from the Law, myself; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died;

10 and the commandment, which [was] unto life, this I found [to be] unto death:

and the very commandment which should have meant life, this I found to mean death.

11 for sin, finding occasion, through the commandment beguiled me, and through it slew me.

For sin, when it had gained a vantage-ground through the commandment, beguiled me, and through it slew me.

12 So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.

So then the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shewn to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; —that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.

Did then that which was good become for me death? Never! but sin did; that it might be manifest as sin, by that the unutterable malignity of sin might become plain through the commandment.

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

For we know that the Law is spiritual; but as for me, I am a creature of flesh, bought and sold under the dominion of sin.

15 For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do.

For what I perform I know not; what I practise is not what I intend to do, but what I detest, that I habitually do.

16 But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good.

If then I habitually do what I do not intend to do, I am consenting to the Law, that it is right.

17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.

And now it is longer I myself who do the deed, but it is sin which has its home in me.

18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good [is] not.

For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, no good thing has its home; for while to will is present with me, to carry out that which is right is not.

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

For the good that I intend to do, I do not; but the evil which I do not; but the evil which I do not intend to do, that I am ever practising.

20 But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.

But if I do the very thing I do not intend to do, it is no more I who practise it, but sin which has its home in me.

21 I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present.

I find, then, this law, that when I intend to do good, evil is ever present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

For in my inmost self I delight in the law of God;

23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.

but I find a different law in my bodily faculties, waging war with the law of my will, and taking me prisoner to that law of sin which is in my bodily faculties.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?

Oh, wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this slave of death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I myself with the mind serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Oh, thank God! it is through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I myself in my will am in thraldom to the law of God; yet in my animal nature I am in thraldom to the law of sin.