¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.^{(A) 16} And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.^{(B) 17} As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.^{(C) 18} For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a](D) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.^{(E) 20} Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.^(F)

²¹ So I find this law at work:^(G) Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being^(H) I delight in God’s law;^{(I) 23} but I see another law at work in me, waging war^(J) against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin^(K) at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?^{(L) 25} Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!^(M)

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,^(N) but in my sinful nature^[b] a slave to the law of sin.^(O)

¹⁶ “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

¹⁸ For John came neither eating^(A) nor drinking,^(B) and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’^(C) But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns^(D)

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!^(E) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon,^(F) they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.^{(G) 22} But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.^{(H) 23} And you, Capernaum,^(I) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[a](J) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”^(K)

The Father Revealed in the Son^(L)

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father,^(M) Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.^{(N) 26} Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²⁷ “All things have been committed to me^(O) by my Father.^(P) No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.^(Q)

²⁸ “Come to me,^(R) all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.^{(S) 29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,^(T) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.^{(U) 30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”^(V)