(KJV) Romans 7¹

⥃Release from the Law ^{[ Galatians 3:15–25 ]}

[1] Know² ye not, brethren³, (for I speak to them that⁴ know the law⁵,) how that the law hath dominion over a man⁶ as long as he liveth? [2] For the woman⁷ 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. [3] So then⁸ 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, though⁹ she be married to another man. [4] Wherefore, my brethren, ye also¹⁰ are become dead to the law by the body¹¹ of Christ; that ye¹² should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we¹³ should bring forth fruit unto God. [5] For when we were in the flesh¹⁴, the motions¹⁵ of sins, which¹⁶ were by the law, did work¹⁷ in our members¹⁸ to bring¹⁹ forth fruit unto death. [6] But²⁰ now we are delivered from the law, that being dead²¹ wherein we were held; that we should serve²² in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter.

⥃God’s Law Is Holy

[7] What²³ shall we say then? [Is] the law²⁴ sin? God forbid. Nay, I had²⁵ not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust²⁶, except the law had said, Thou shalt²⁷ not covet. [8] But sin²⁸, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought²⁹ in me all manner of concupiscence. For without³⁰ the law sin [was] dead. [9] For I³¹ was alive without³² the law once: but³³ when the commandment came, sin³⁴ revived, and I died³⁵. [10] And the commandment, which [was ordained] to life, I found [to be] unto death.³⁶ [11] For sin³⁷, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived³⁸ me, and by it slew [me]. [12] Wherefore the law³⁹ [is] holy, and the commandment⁴⁰ holy, and just, and good.

⥃Struggling with Sin

[13] Was then⁴¹ that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin⁴², 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 law⁴³ is spiritual: but⁴⁴ I am carnal⁴⁵, sold⁴⁶ under sin. [15] For that⁴⁷ which I do I allow⁴⁸ not: for what⁴⁹ I would, that do I not; but what I hate⁵⁰, that do I. [16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent⁵¹ unto the law that [it is] good. [17] Now then it is no more⁵² I that do it, but sin⁵³ that dwelleth in me. [18] For I know that in me⁵⁴ (that is, in my⁵⁵ flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will⁵⁶ 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 no⁵⁷ more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law⁵⁸, that, when I would do good, evil⁵⁹ is present with me. [22] For I delight⁶⁰ in the law of God after the inward⁶¹ man: [23] But I see another⁶² law in my members⁶³, warring against the law of my mind, and⁶⁴ bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched⁶⁵ man that I am! who⁶⁶ shall deliver me from the body of this⁶⁷ death? [25] I thank God⁶⁸ through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then⁶⁹ with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.