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. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, ^(I)sold under sin. ¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For ^(J)I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with ^(K)the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now ^(L)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells ^(M)in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ^19 (N)For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, ^(O)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

⁶ Up! Up! ^(A)Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have ^(B)spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord. ^7 (C)Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. ⁸ For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me^[a] to the nations who plundered you, ^(D)for he who touches you touches ^(E)the apple of his eye: ⁹ “Behold, ^(F)I will shake my hand over them, ^(G)and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then ^(H)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. ^10 (I)Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for ^(J)behold, I come ^(K)and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. ^11 (L)And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. ^(M)And I will dwell in your midst, and ^(N)you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. ^12 (O)And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again ^(P)choose Jerusalem.”

¹³ Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.