Sin’s Use of the Law

⁷ What should we say then?^(A) Is the law sin? Absolutely not!^(B) But I would not have known sin if it were not for the law.^(C) For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.^{[a](D) 8} And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment,^(E) produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.^{(F) 9} Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again ¹⁰ and I died. The commandment that was meant for life^(G) resulted in death for me. ¹¹ For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me,^(H) and through it killed me. ¹² So then, the law is holy,^(I) and the commandment is holy and just and good.