Romans 7

1 KNOW you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) that the law hath dominion over a man, as long as it liveth?2 For the woman that hath an husband, whilst her husband liveth is bound to the law. But if her husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.3 Therefore, whilst her husband liveth, she shall be called an adulteress, if she be with another man: but if her husband be dead, she is delivered from the law of her husband; so that she is not an adulteress, if she be with another man.4 Therefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law, by the body of Christ; that you may belong to another, who is risen again from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit to God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death.6 But now we are loosed from the law of death, wherein we were detained; so that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? God forbid. But I do not know sin, but by the law; for I had not known concupiscence, if the law did not say: Thou shalt not covet.8 But sin taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.9 And I lived some time without the law. But when the commandment came, sin revived,10 And I died. And the commandment that was ordained to life, the same was found to be unto death to me.11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, seduced me, and by it killed me.12 Wherefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.13 Was that then which is good, made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it may appear sin, by that which is good, wrought death in me; that sin, by the commandment, might become sinful above measure.14 For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For that which I work, I understand not. For I do not that good which I will; but the evil which I hate, that I do.16 If then I do that which I will not, I consent to the law, that it is good.17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.18 For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is to say, in my flesh, that which is good. For to will, is present with me; but to accomplish that which is good, I find not.19 For the good which I will, I do not; but the evil which I will not, that I do.20 Now if I do that which I will not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.21 I find then a law, that when I have a will to do good, evil is present with me.22 For I am delighted with the law of God, according to the inward man:23 But I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind, and captivating me in the law of sin, that is in my members.24 Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?25 The grace of God, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, I myself, with the mind serve the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sin.

Romans 7

The Believer’s Relationship to the Law

1 Or do you not know, brothers and sisterst (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a persons as long as he lives?2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if hert husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage.ts3 So then,t if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if hert husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.4 So, my brothers and sisters,t you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.t5 For when we were in the flesh,t the sinful desires,t aroused by the law, were active in the members of our bodyt to bear fruit for death.

6 But now we have been released from the law, because we have diedt to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.t
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Certainly, Is would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone elset if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”s8 But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires.t For apart from the law, sin is dead.9 And I was once alive apart from the law, but with the coming of the commandment sin became alive10 and I died. Sot I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death!t11 For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it I died.t

12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.14 For we know that the law is spiritual – but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.t15 For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want – instead, I do what I hate.t16 But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good.t17 But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me.18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.t19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!

20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.
21 So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me.22 For I delight in the law of God in my inner being.23 But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

25 Thanks bes to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then,t I myself serve the law of God with my mind, butt with my flesh I servet the law of sin.