< Romans 7 >

1 Are ye ignorant, brethren — for to those knowing law I speak — that the law hath lordship over the man as long as he liveth?
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 married woman to the living husband hath been bound by law, and if the husband may die, she hath been 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, then, the husband being alive, an adulteress she shall be called if she may become another man's; and if the husband may die, she is free from the law, so as not to be an adulteress, having become another man's.
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 So that, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of the Christ, for your becoming another's, who out of the dead was raised up, that we might bear 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 passions of the sins, that [are] through the law, were working in our members, to bear fruit to the 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 and now we have ceased from the law, that being dead in which we were held, so that we may serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of 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, shall we say? the law [is] sin? let it not be! but the sin I did not know except through law, for also the covetousness I had not known if the law had not said:
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 'Thou shalt not covet;' and the sin having received an opportunity, through the command, did work in me all covetousness — for apart from 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 I was alive apart from law once, and the command having come, the sin revived, and I died;
For I was alive, once, without the law: but when the commandment came, sin revived, but I died.
10 and the command that [is] for life, this was found by me for death;
Yes, the commandment which was for live, the very same was found to be death to me.
11 for the sin, having received an opportunity, through the command, did deceive me, and through it did slay [me];
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 so that the law, indeed, [is] holy, and the command holy, and righteous, and good.
Wherefore, the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.
13 That which is good then, to me hath it become death? let it not be! but the sin, that it might appear sin, through the good, working death to me, that the sin might become exceeding sinful through the command,
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 have known that the law is spiritual, and I am fleshly, sold by the sin;
Besides, we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 for that which I work, I do not acknowledge; for not what I will, this I practise, but what I hate, this 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 And if what I do not will, this I do, I consent to the law that [it is] good,
If, now, I do that which I do not desire, I consent to the law that it is good.
17 and now it is no longer I that work it, but the sin dwelling in me,
But now it is no longer I myself who do this; but sin which dwells in me.
18 for I have known that there doth not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh, good: for to will is present with me, and to work that which is right I do not find,
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 that I will, I do not; but the evil that I do not will, this I practise.
For the good which I desire, that I do not: but the evil which I desire not, that I do.
20 And if what I do not will, this I do, it is no longer I that work it, but the sin that is dwelling 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 I find, then, the law, that when I desire to do what is right, with me the evil is present,
I find, then, that it is a law to me, when desirous to do good, that evil is near me.
22 for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man,
For I take pleasure in the law of God, as to the inner man:
23 and I behold another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of the sin that [is] in my members.
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 A wretched man I [am]! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?
Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?
25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord; so then, I myself indeed with the mind do serve the law of God, and with the flesh, 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.

< Romans 7 >