Sin’s Advantage in the Law

⁷ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, ^(A)I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ^(B)“You shall not covet.”

²⁰ Therefore ^(A)by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

¹⁵ because ^(A)the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and ^(A)the strength of sin is the law.

⁹ For the commandments, ^(A)“You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” ^[a]“You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ^(B)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

⁸ But ^(A)sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For ^(B)apart from the law sin was dead.

⁵ But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? ^(A)(I speak as a man.)