¹⁵ because the law brings wrath.^(A) And where there is no law there is no transgression.^(B)

¹³ To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.^(A)

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law^(A) are under a curse,^(B) as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”^[a](C)

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says,^(A) it says to those who are under the law,^(B) so that every mouth may be silenced^(C) and the whole world held accountable to God.^{(D) 20} Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;^(E) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.^(F)

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

The Law and Sin

⁷ What shall we say, then?^(A) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!^(B) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.^(C) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”^{[a](D) 8} But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(E) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.^{(F) 9} Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. ¹⁰ I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life^(G) actually brought death. ¹¹ For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(H) deceived me,^(I) and through the commandment put me to death. ¹² So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.^(J)

¹³ Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good^(K) to bring about my death,^(L) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,^(M) sold^(N) as a slave to sin.^{(O) 15} I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.^{(P) 16} And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.^{(Q) 17} As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.^{(R) 18} For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[b](S) 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.^{(T) 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.^(U)

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

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

¹⁹ Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions^(A) until the Seed^(B) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels^(C) and entrusted to a mediator.^(D)

³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,^(A) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

⁴ Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.^(A)