²⁷ The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you^(A) who, even though you have the^[a] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

⁴¹ The men of Nineveh^(A) will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,^(B) and now something greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came^(C) from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

⁶ He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^(A)—not of the letter^(B) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^(C)

⁴ in order that the righteous requirement^(A) of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.^(B)

⁶ But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law^(A) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.^(B)

The Law and Sin

⁷ What shall we say, then?^(C) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!^(D) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.^(E) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”^{[a](F) 8} But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(G) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.^(H)