Romans 7

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Don't you realize, my friends, (and I'm talking to those who understand the law,) that the law has power over a person for as long as they're alive?

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

As long as her husband is alive, a woman is committed to him by law. But if he passes away, she is no longer bound by these legal obligations.

So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

If a woman marries another man while her husband is alive, she's called an adulteress. But if her husband has passed away, she's free from that law, and she is no adulteress if she marries another man.

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

My dear friends, through Christ's sacrifice, we are freed from the law's constraints. We are united with Him, who conquered death, so we can live fruitful lives for God.

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

When we were driven by our physical desires, the sinful passions stirred up by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit that leads to death.

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

We've been freed from the constraints of the law, which once held us captive. Now, we're called to live with a renewed spirit, not bound by the old written rules.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

So, what's our conclusion? Is the law evil? Absolutely not! In fact, it's through the law that I understood what sin is. For instance, I wouldn't have known what desire was if the law hadn't clarified, "Do not crave for what isn't yours."

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Sin, seizing the opportunity through God's laws, stirred up every kind of desire within me. Without these laws, sin would have no power.

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

Once, I lived freely, unaware of any rules. But when the laws were introduced, my wrongdoings came to life, and I felt spiritually dead.

And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

The rule that was meant to bring life, I discovered, led only to death.

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

Sin, seizing the opportunity through God's commandment, tricked me and through it put me to death.

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

The law is sacred, its commands are pure, fair, and beneficial.

Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Did something good cause my death? Absolutely not! It was sin, revealing its true nature through what is good, that caused my death. It used the very commandment meant to guide me, to become overwhelmingly destructive.

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

We understand that the law is divine, yet I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

I don't understand why I do things I know are wrong, and fail to do what I know is right. Instead, I end up doing what I despise.

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

When I end up doing what I don't want to, it shows that I agree the law is right and good.

Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

It's not me acting, but the sin living within me.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do good, but I cannot carry it out.

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

Despite my best intentions, I often fail to do the right thing, and instead, end up doing what I know is wrong.

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

When I act against my will, it's not me but the sin within me that's controlling my actions.

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

I've discovered a rule: whenever I try to do right, I'm always confronted with temptation.

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

I find true joy in God's laws deep within my soul.

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

I feel an inner struggle, a battle within me, between my thoughts and desires. This conflict often leads me to fall prey to the sinful tendencies within me.

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

Oh, how miserable I feel! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

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

I express my gratitude to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So with my mind I serve God's law, but with my sinful nature I serve the law of sin.