Romans 7:7-12
English Standard Version
The Law and Sin
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, (A)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if (B)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, (C)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. (D)For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment (E)that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, (F)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, (G)deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So (H)the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
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Romans 7:7-12
International Standard Version
The Law Shows Us What Sin Is
7 What should we say, then? Is the Law sinful? Of course not! In fact, I wouldn’t have become aware of sin if it had not been for the Law. I wouldn’t have known what it means to covet if the Law had not said, “You must not covet.”[a] 8 But sin seized the opportunity provided by this commandment and produced in me all kinds of sinful desires, since apart from the Law, sin is dead. 9 At one time I was alive without any connection to[b] the Law.[c] But when the rule was revealed, sin sprang to life, 10 and I died. I found that the very rule that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity provided by the rule, deceived me and used it to kill me. 12 So then, the Law[d] itself is holy, and the rule is holy, just, and good.
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- Romans 7:7 Cf. Exod 20:17
- Romans 7:9 The Gk. lacks any connection to
- Romans 7:9 Or instruction
- Romans 7:12 Or instruction
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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