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)

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;^(A) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.^{(B) 6} The mind governed by the flesh is death,^(C) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life^(D) and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;^(E) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh^(F) cannot please God.