Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Released from the Law

Or do you not know, brothers[a]—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For (A)a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.[b] Accordingly, (B)she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

Likewise, my brothers, (C)you also have died (D)to the law (E)through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, (F)in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work (G)in our members (H)to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the (I)new way of (J)the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.[c]

The Law and Sin

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, (K)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if (L)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, (M)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. (N)For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment (O)that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, (P)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, (Q)deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So (R)the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, (S)sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For (T)I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with (U)the law, that it is good. 17 So now (V)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells (W)in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 (X)For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, (Y)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For (Z)I delight in the law of God, (AA)in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members (AB)another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from (AC)this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 4
  2. Romans 7:2 Greek law concerning the husband
  3. Romans 7:6 Greek of the letter

Júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ quiáˈˉ dseaˋ sɨcúngˈˆ guóˋ

Jo̱ jaléngˈˋ ˈnʉ́ˈˋ, dseaˋ rúˈˋnaaˈ dseaˋ quiáˈˉ Dseaˋ Jmáangˉ, nɨcuíiˋbaˈ røøˋ jial lɨ́ɨˊ jaléˈˋ júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ quiáˈˉ Fidiéeˇ, jo̱guɨ nɨñíˆbɨˈ cajo̱ e e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do quiʉˈˊ ta˜ dseaˋ jí̱i̱ˈ˜ lajeeˇ e seengˋ dseaˋ fɨˊ jmɨgüíbˋ. Co̱ˈ faco̱ˈ jaangˋ dseamɨ́ˋ cacúngˈˉ guórˋ, jo̱baˈ dseángˈˉ jaˋ cuǿøngˋ faˈ e nitiúuiñˉ i̱ dseañʉˈˋ quiáˈrˉ do lajeeˇ e seeiñˈˋ do fɨˊ jmɨgüíˋ, co̱ˈ lajo̱b féˈˋ e fɨˊ ni˜ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do. Jo̱guɨ fɨng song cajúngˉ i̱ dseañʉˈˋ do, jo̱baˈ i̱ dseamɨ́ˋ do joˋ catɨ́ɨngˉ faˈ e nijmiti˜guɨr laco̱ˈ féˈˋ e fɨˊ ni˜ júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do cuaiñ˜ quiáˈˉ dseaˋ sɨcúngˈˆ guóˋ. Jo̱ song i̱ dseamɨ́ˋ do ˈléerˊ e güɨɨiñˋ có̱o̱ˈ˜ dseañʉˈˋ i̱ jiéngˈˋ lajeeˇ e seemˋbɨ i̱ dseañʉˈˋ quiáˈrˉ do, jo̱baˈ dseebˉ éerˋ jóng fɨˊ quiniˇ Fidiéeˇ. Jo̱guɨ song cajúngˉ i̱ dseañʉˈˋ quiáˈrˉ do, jo̱baˈ joˋ catɨ́ɨngˉguɨr faˈ e nijmitir˜ laco̱ˈ féˈˋ e fɨˊ ni˜ júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do cuaiñ˜ quiáˈˉ dseaˋ i̱ sɨcúngˈˆ guóˋ. Jo̱baˈ jaˋ dseeˉ niˈérˉ fɨˊ quiniˇ Fidiéeˇ song nicúiñˈˋ guóorˋ có̱o̱ˈ˜ i̱ dseañʉˈˋ i̱ jiéngˈˋ do.

Jo̱ lajo̱b lɨ́ɨˊ có̱o̱ˈ˜ jaléngˈˋ ˈnʉ́ˈˋ, dseaˋ rúˈˋnaaˈ dseaˋ quiáˈˉ Dseaˋ Jmáangˉ, co̱ˈ laˈeáangˊ có̱o̱ˈ˜ e cajúngˉ Dseaˋ Jmáangˉ fɨˊ dseˈˋ crúuˆ do, lɨ́ɨˊ lafaˈ e cajúmˉ ˈnʉ́ˈˋ cajo̱. Jo̱ lana joˋ quiʉˈˊguɨ ta˜ ˈnʉ́ˈˋ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ quiáˈˉ Fidiéeˇ do. Jo̱ calɨ́ˉ lajo̱ e laco̱ˈ nɨlɨ́ɨngˊnaˈ dseaˋ quiáˈˉ Dseaˋ Jmáangˉ. Jo̱ co̱ˈ dseaˋ quiáˈˉ i̱ dseaˋ i̱ cají̱ˈˊtu̱ caléˈˋ catú̱ˉ nɨlɨ́ɨngˊnaˈ, jo̱baˈ lají̱i̱ˈ˜ e iing˜ Fidiéeˇ nɨjmooˋnaˈ lana. Jo̱ ie˜ lamɨ˜ jmitíˆnaaˈ jaléˈˋ e jaˋ dseengˋ e lɨ́ˋ dsíiˊ ngúuˊ táangˋnaaˈ, e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do calɨˈíingˆ ta˜ e laco̱ˈ eáangˊguɨ lɨ́ˋ dsiˋnaaˈ e nijmóˆnaaˈ jaléˈˋ e jaˋ dseengˋ do. Jo̱ jaléˈˋ e jo̱ dseángˈˉ jí̱i̱ˈ˜ fɨˊ ˈmóbˉ siˈˊ. Jo̱ dsʉˈ lana joˋ quie̱ˊguɨ nifɨˊ quíˉiiˈ lají̱i̱ˈ˜ e féˈˋ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do, co̱ˈ nɨlɨ́ɨngˊnaaˈ lafaˈ dseaˋ i̱ sɨjúumˉ, co̱ˈ joˋ sɨlɨ́ɨˈˇguɨ jneaa˜aaˈ jaléˈˋ dseeˉ quíˉiiˈ. Jo̱ co̱ˈ lajo̱b nɨlɨ́ɨˊ, jo̱baˈ lana fɨˊ ˈmɨ́ɨbˉ nɨté̱e̱ˉnaaˈ e nɨjmooˉnaaˈ laˈeáangˊ có̱o̱ˈ˜ Jmɨguíˋ quiáˈˉ Fidiéeˇ lají̱i̱ˈ˜ e iing˜ Fidiéeˇ e nijmóˆooˈ, jo̱ o̱ˈ laˈeáangˊ có̱o̱ˈ˜ e júuˆ yʉ́ʉˈ˜ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do.

Lají̱i̱ˈ˜ dseeˉ e seaˋ quiéˉe

Jo̱ e labaˈ iin˜n fɨ́ɨˆɨ ˈnʉ́ˈˋ, dseaˋ rúˈˋnaaˈ dseaˋ quiáˈˉ Dseaˋ Jmáangˉ, e o̱ˈ dseeˉ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do. ¡Co̱ˈ dseángˈˉ o̱ˈ lajo̱! Dsʉco̱ˈ faco̱ˈ mɨ˜ jaˋ mɨˊ seaˋ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do, jo̱baˈ jaˋ tó̱o̱ˋ jmɨɨ˜ calɨñiˋ jnea˜ jóng e eeˇe dseeˉ. Co̱ˈ mɨ˜ cajmeˈˊ jnea˜ júuˆ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do mɨ˜ féˈˋ lala: “Jaˋ jmooˈˋ e lɨ́ˋ oˈˊ jaléˈˋ e seaˋ fɨˊ jmɨgüíˋ”, jo̱baˈ laˈeáangˊ có̱o̱ˈ˜ e júuˆ jo̱ calɨñiˋ jnea˜ e lɨ́ˋ dsiiˉ jaléˈˋ e seaˋ fɨˊ jmɨgüíˋ. Jo̱ laˈeáangˊ có̱o̱ˈ˜ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do calɨˈíingˆ ta˜ e laco̱ˈ jnea˜ calɨñiiˉ e eáamˊ eeˉ dseeˉ fɨˊ jmɨgüíˋ la uíiˈ˜ e eáangˊ lɨ́ˋ dsiiˉ jaléˈˋ e seaˋ fɨˊ jo̱. Dsʉˈ mɨ˜ jaˋ seaˋ júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜, jo̱baˈ jaˋ líˈˆ dseaˋ e éerˋ dseeˉ jóng. Jo̱ nʉ́ˈˉguɨ e ningánˈˋn lají̱i̱ˈ˜ ta˜ huɨ̱́ˈˋ quiáˈˉ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do, lɨ́nˉn e seenˉ juguiʉ́ˉ júuˆ røøbˋ. Jo̱ dsʉˈ mɨ˜ cangánˈˋn røøˋ lají̱i̱ˈ˜ e júuˆ jo̱, jo̱baˈ eáangˊguɨ casiˈˊ fɨˊ quiéˉe jóng e iin˜n niˈeeˇe dseeˉ, jo̱guɨ e jí̱i̱ˈ˜ ˈmóbˉ nɨsɨjéeˊ quiéˉe uíiˈ˜ e jmóoˋo jaléˈˋ e jo̱. 10 Jo̱ lajo̱b calɨ́ˉ, co̱ˈ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do e lamɨ˜ lɨ́nˉn e sɨˈíˆ e nijmɨcó̱o̱ˈ˜ jnea˜ e laco̱ˈ jial nilɨseenˉ juguiʉ́ˉ júuˆ røøˋ, dsʉˈ jaˋ calɨ́ˉ lajo̱, co̱ˈ caˈléebˊ quiéˉe e lafaˈ cajúmˉbaa uíiˈ˜ jaléˈˋ dseeˉ e caˈeeˇe do. 11 Dsʉco̱ˈ laˈeáangˊ có̱o̱ˈ˜ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do calɨˈíingˆ ta˜ e laco̱ˈ jnea˜ calɨñiiˉ e jmɨgóobˋ jaléˈˋ dseeˉ, co̱ˈ dseángˈˉ jí̱i̱ˈ˜ fɨˊ ˈmóbˉ siˈˊ.

12 Jo̱baˈ fɨ́ɨˉɨ ˈnʉ́ˈˋ, dseaˋ rúˈˋnaaˈ, e güeamˈˆ jaléˈˋ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do, jo̱guɨ lajo̱b lɨ́ɨˊ cajo̱ laco̱o̱ˋ e júuˆ ta˜ huɨ̱́ˈˋ do, jo̱guɨ røøbˋ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ quiáˈˉ dseaˋ, jo̱guɨ guiʉ́ˉbɨ cajo̱. 13 Co̱ˈ e labaˈ lɨ́ɨˊ e lɨ́ˈˆ laco̱ˈ calɨli˜ e dseángˈˉ lajamˈˆbaˈ lɨ́ɨˊ dseeˉ jaléˈˋ dseeˉ quiéˉe. Jo̱ e dseeˉ quiéˉe do cajmeángˈˋ ta˜ e júuˆ ta˜ huɨ̱́ˈˋ quiáˈˉ Fidiéeˇ do e laco̱ˈ casíngˈˋ jnea˜ fɨˊ ˈmóˉ. Jo̱ lajo̱baˈ laˈeáangˊ có̱o̱ˈ˜ e júuˆ ta˜ huɨ̱́ˈˋ do caja̱ˈˊ júuˆ e dseángˈˉ lajamˈˆbaˈ ˈlɨˈˆ jaléˈˋ dseeˉ quiáˈˉ dseaˋ.

14 Jo̱ nɨne˜baaˈ røøˋ e Fidiéeˇbingˈ cacuøˊ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do, jo̱ dsʉˈ jnea˜guɨ lɨ́ɨnˊn jí̱i̱ˈ˜ dseaˋ jmɨgüíbˋ, jo̱guɨ jaangˋ i̱ jmiti˜ lají̱i̱ˈ˜ ta˜ quiʉˈˊ dseeˉ quiáˈˉ. 15 Jo̱ jí̱i̱ˈ˜ ˈñiáˈˋa jaˋ ngánˈˋn eeˋ jaléˈˋ e jmóoˋo, dsʉco̱ˈ jaˋ jmóoˋo jaléˈˋ e iin˜n ˈñiáˈˋa, co̱ˈ jaléˈˋ e ˈníˈˋ máamˊbaa, e jo̱baˈ jmóoˋo. 16 Jo̱guɨ song jmóoˋo jaléˈˋ e jaˋ iin˜n jmee˜e do, jo̱baˈ có̱o̱ˈ˜ e jo̱ cuøøˉ li˜ e eáamˊ guiʉ́ˉ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do. 17 Jo̱ lajo̱b lɨ́ɨˊ, dsʉco̱ˈ o̱ˈ ˈñiáˈˋa dseaˋ jmóoˋ jaléˈˋ e jaˋ dseengˋ do, dsʉco̱ˈ dseeˉ quiéˉbaa e quiʉˈˊ ta˜ e jmóoˋo jaléˈˋ e jo̱. 18 Co̱ˈ nɨcuíimˋ ˈñiáˈˋa e dseaˋ dseeˉ dseaˋ quibˊ lɨ́ɨnˊn, jo̱baˈ jí̱i̱ˈ˜ co̱o̱ˋ e guiʉ́ˉ líˈˆi jmeeˉ nañiˊ faˈ eáamˊ iin˜n e nijmee˜e jaléˈˋ e guiʉ́ˉ, lɨfaˈ dseángˈˉ jaˋ líˈˋi e nijmee˜e jaléˈˋ e jo̱. 19 Dsʉˈ jaˋ jmóoˋo jaléˈˋ e guiʉ́ˉ e iin˜n jmee˜e, co̱ˈ jmangˈˉ jaléˈˋ e gaˋ e jaˋ iin˜n jmee˜baa, dseángˈˉ e jo̱baˈ jmóoˋo. 20 Jo̱ song jmóoˋo jaléˈˋ e jaˋ iin˜n jmee˜e do, jo̱baˈ o̱ˈ ˈñiáˈˋa dseaˋ jmóoˋ jaléˈˋ e jo̱, dsʉco̱ˈ dseeˉ quiéˉbaa quiʉˈˊ ta˜ jnea˜ e jmóoˋo jaléˈˋ e lajo̱.

21 Jo̱baˈ nɨcalɨlíˈˆi e nañiˊ faˈ iim˜baa jmee˜e jaléˈˋ e guiʉ́ˉ, dsʉˈ jmangˈˉ jaléˈˋ e gaˋbaˈ líˈˋi jmóoˋo. 22 Dsʉco̱ˈ eáamˊ iin˜n e nijmitiiˆ jaléˈˋ júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ e cajmeˈˊ Moi˜; 23 lɨfaˈ e dseeˉ quiéˉe do eáamˊ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ jnea˜ jo̱guɨ eáamˊ sɨlɨ́ɨˈˇ jnea˜ cajo̱, co̱ˈ ˈníˈˋ níimˉ rúngˈˋ có̱o̱ˈ˜ lají̱i̱ˈ˜ e ɨˊ dsiiˉ e iin˜n nijmee˜e.

24 ¡E ngɨ˜ fɨ́ɨbˆ jnea˜! ¿I̱˜ i̱ nileángˉ jnea˜ jee˜ jaléˈˋ dseeˉ quiéˉe e laco̱ˈ jaˋ nijúunˉn uíiˈ˜ e jo̱? 25 Jo̱ dsʉˈ jnea˜ ɨˊ dsiiˉ e nijmitiiˉ e júuˆ quiʉˈˊ ta˜ do, dsʉˈ jnea˜, dseaˋ dseeˉ dseaˋ quibˊ lɨ́ɨnˊn, jo̱baˈ jaˋ líˈˆi nijmee˜e lajo̱, co̱ˈ dseeˉ quiéˉbaa quie̱ˊ nifɨˊ quiéˉe. Jo̱ lajo̱b lɨ́ɨˊ, lɨfaˈ guiˈmáangˈˇ Fidiéeˇ e nɨcaleáaiñˋ jnea˜ jee˜ jaléˈˋ e jo̱ laˈeáangˊ có̱o̱ˈ˜ Fíiˋnaaˈ Dseaˋ Jmáangˉ.

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