¹⁹ Why then the law? ^(A)It was added because of transgressions, ^(B)until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ^(C)put in place through angels ^(D)by an intermediary.

⁵³ you who received the law ^(A)as delivered by angels and ^(B)did not keep it.”

The Law and Sin

⁷ What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, ^(A)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if ^(B)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, ^(C)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. ^(D)For apart from the law, sin lies dead. ⁹ I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. ¹⁰ The very commandment ^(E)that promised life proved to be death to me. ¹¹ For sin, ^(F)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, ^(G)deceived me and through it killed me. ¹² So ^(H)the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

¹³ Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

² For since ^(A)the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and ^(B)every transgression or disobedience received a just ^(C)retribution,

¹⁶ Now ^(A)the promises were made ^(B)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, ^(C)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

⁸ Now we know that ^(A)the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ understanding this, that the ^(B)law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,

²⁰ Now ^(A)the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, ^(B)grace abounded all the more, ²¹ so that, ^(C)as sin reigned in death, ^(D)grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹⁵ For ^(A)the law brings wrath, but ^(B)where there is no law ^(C)there is no transgression.

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever ^(A)the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, ^(B)so that every mouth may be stopped, and ^(C)the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰ For ^(D)by works of the law no human being^[a] will be justified in his sight, since ^(E)through the law comes knowledge of sin.