¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a](A) 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.^{(B) 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.^(C)

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

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

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit,^(A) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.^(B)

¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.^(A) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[a] you want.^(B)

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(A) with its passions and desires.^(B)