Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

Do you not know, brothers and sisters(A)—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him.(B) So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress.(C) But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law(D) through the body of Christ,(E) that you might belong to another,(F) to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh,[a](G) the sinful passions aroused by the law(H) were at work in us,(I) so that we bore fruit for death.(J) But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law(K) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.(L)

The Law and Sin

What shall we say, then?(M) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!(N) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.(O) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[b](P) But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(Q) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.(R) 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(S) actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(T) deceived me,(U) and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.(V)

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(W) to bring about my death,(X) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,(Y) sold(Z) as a slave to sin.(AA) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.(AB) 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.(AC) 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.(AD) 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c](AE) 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.(AF) 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.(AG)

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

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,(AO) but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  2. Romans 7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21
  3. Romans 7:18 Or my flesh
  4. Romans 7:25 Or in the flesh

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.(A)

Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(B)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(C)

No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.(D)

A wife of noble character(E) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(F)

The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(G)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(H)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(I)

A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(J) mind is despised.

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(K)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(L)

12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(M)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(N)

14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(O)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.(P)

15 The way of fools seems right to them,(Q)
    but the wise listen to advice.(R)

16 Fools(S) show their annoyance at once,(T)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(U)

17 An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.(V)

18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(W)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(X)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(Y)

21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(Z)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,(AA)
    but he delights(AB) in people who are trustworthy.(AC)

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(AD)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(AE)

24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(AF)

25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(AG)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(AH)

27 The lazy do not roast[a] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

28 In the way of righteousness there is life;(AI)
    along that path is immortality.

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(AJ)

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(AK)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

Those who guard their lips(AL) preserve their lives,(AM)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(AN)

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(AO)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The righteous hate what is false,(AP)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(AQ)

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(AR)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(AS)

A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(AT)

The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.(AU)

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(AV)

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(AW)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.(AX)

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(AY)
    but whoever respects(AZ) a command is rewarded.(BA)

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(BB)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(BC)

15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[b]

16 All who are prudent act with[c] knowledge,
    but fools expose(BD) their folly.(BE)

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,(BF)
    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.(BG)

18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(BH)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(BI)

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(BJ)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(BK)

21 Trouble pursues the sinner,(BL)
    but the righteous(BM) are rewarded with good things.(BN)

22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(BO)

23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

24 Whoever spares the rod(BP) hates their children,
    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline(BQ) them.(BR)

25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.(BS)

14 The wise woman builds her house,(BT)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(BU)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(BV)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox(BW) come abundant harvests.

An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(BX)

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(BY)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(BZ)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(CA)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,(CB)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.(CC)

12 There is a way that appears to be right,(CD)
    but in the end it leads to death.(CE)

13 Even in laughter(CF) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(CG)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(CH)

15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.(CI)

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(CJ)
    but a fool(CK) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(CL) does foolish things,(CM)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(CN)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(CO)

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(CP)

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,(CQ)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.(CR)

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(CS)
    But those who plan what is good find[d] love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(CT)

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.(CU)

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(CV)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(CW)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(CX)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(CY)

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(CZ)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(DA)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(DB)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(DC)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(DD)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(DE)

32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,(DF)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.(DG)

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(DH)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[e]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,(DI)
    but sin condemns any people.

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(DJ)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  3. Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through
  4. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  5. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known

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