³ At one time^(A) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable^(A) for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband,^(B) who was with her, and he ate it.^{(C) 7} Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked;^(D) so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.^(E)

² in which you used to live^(A) when you followed the ways of this world^(B) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(C) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^{(D) 3} All of us also lived among them at one time,^(E) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a](F) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

No One Is Righteous

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?^(A) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.^{(B) 10} As it is written:

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says,^(I) it says to those who are under the law,^(J) so that every mouth may be silenced^(K) and the whole world held accountable to God.^(L)

⁸ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”^(A)

⁹ And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe^[a] your own traditions!^(B)