1 Is it not clear, my brothers (I am using an argument to those who have knowledge of the law), that the law has power over a man as long as he is living?2 For the woman who has a husband is placed by the law under the power of her husband as long as he is living; but if her husband is dead, she is free from the law of the husband.3 So if, while the husband is living, she is joined to another man, she will get the name of one who is untrue to her husband: but if the husband is dead, she is free from the law, so that she is not untrue, even if she takes another man.4 In the same way, my brothers, you were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, even to him who came again from the dead, so that we might give fruit to God.5 For when we were in the flesh, the evil passions which came into being through the law were working in our bodies to give the fruit of death.6 But now we are free from the law, having been made dead to that which had power over us; so that we are servants in the new way of the spirit, not in the old way of the letter.7 What then is to be said? is the law sin? in no way. But I would not have had knowledge of sin but for the law: for I would not have been conscious of desire if the law had not said, You may not have a desire for what is another's.8 But sin, taking its chance through that which was ordered by the law, was working in me every form of desire: because without the law sin is dead.9 And there was a time when I was living without the law: but when the law gave its orders, sin came to life and put me to death;10 And I made the discovery that the law whose purpose was to give life had become a cause of death:11 For I was tricked and put to death by sin, which took its chance through the law.12 But the law is holy, and its orders are holy, upright, and good.13 Was then that which is good, death to me? In no way. But the purpose was that sin might be seen to be sin by working death to me through that which is good; so that through the orders of the law sin might seem much more evil.14 For we are conscious that the law is of the spirit; but I am of the flesh, given into the power of sin.15 And I have no clear knowledge of what I am doing, for that which I have a mind to do, I do not, but what I have hate for, that I do.16 But, if I do that which I have no mind to do, I am in agreement with the law that the law is good.17 So it is no longer I who do it, but the sin living in me.18 For I am conscious that in me, that is, in my flesh, there is nothing good: I have the mind but not the power to do what is right.19 For the good which I have a mind to do, I do not: but the evil which I have no mind to do, that I do.20 But if I do what I have no mind to do, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin living in me.21 So I see a law that, though I have a mind to do good, evil is present in me.22 In my heart I take pleasure in the law of God,23 But I see another law in my body, working against the law of my mind, and making me the servant of the law of sin which is in my flesh.24 How unhappy am I! who will make me free from the body of this death?25 I give praise to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So with my mind I am a servant to the law of God, but with my flesh to the law of sin.

1 An ignoratis, fratres (scientibus enim legem loquor), quia lex in homine dominatur quanto tempore vivit ? 2 Nam quæ sub viro est mulier, vivente viro, alligata est legi : si autem mortuus fuerit vir ejus, soluta est a lege viri. 3 Igitur, vivente viro, vocabitur adultera si fuerit cum alio viro : si autem mortuus fuerit vir ejus, liberata est a lege viri, ut non sit adultera si fuerit cum alio viro. 4 Itaque fratres mei, et vos mortificati estis legi per corpus Christi : ut sitis alterius, qui ex mortuis resurrexit, ut fructificemus Deo. 5 Cum enim essemus in carne, passiones peccatorum, quæ per legem erant, operabantur in membris nostris, ut fructificarent morti. 6 Nunc autem soluti sumus a lege mortis, in qua detinebamur, ita ut serviamus in novitate spiritus, et non in vetustate litteræ.7 Quid ergo dicemus ? lex peccatum est ? Absit. Sed peccatum non cognovi, nisi per legem : nam concupiscentiam nesciebam, nisi lex diceret : Non concupisces. 8 Occasione autem accepta, peccatum per mandatum operatum est in me omnem concupiscentiam. Sine lege enim peccatum mortuum erat. 9 Ego autem vivebam sine lege aliquando : sed cum venisset mandatum, peccatum revixit. 10 Ego autem mortuus sum : et inventum est mihi mandatum, quod erat ad vitam, hoc esse ad mortem. 11 Nam peccatum occasione accepta per mandatum, seduxit me, et per illud occidit. 12 Itaque lex quidem sancta, et mandatum sanctum, et justum, et bonum.13 Quod ergo bonum est, mihi factum est mors ? Absit. Sed peccatum, ut appareat peccatum, per bonum operatum est mihi mortem : ut fiat supra modum peccans peccatum per mandatum. 14 Scimus enim quia lex spiritualis est : ego autem carnalis sum, venundatus sub peccato. 15 Quod enim operor, non intelligo : non enim quod volo bonum, hoc ago : sed quod odi malum, illud facio. 16 Si autem quod nolo, illud facio : consentio legi, quoniam bona est. 17 Nunc autem jam non ego operor illud, sed quod habitat in me peccatum. 18 Scio enim quia non habitat in me, hoc est in carne mea, bonum. Nam velle, adjacet mihi : perficere autem bonum, non invenio. 19 Non enim quod volo bonum, hoc facio : sed quod nolo malum, hoc ago. 20 Si autem quod nolo, illud facio : jam non ego operor illud, sed quod habitat in me, peccatum. 21 Invenio igitur legem, volenti mihi facere bonum, quoniam mihi malum adjacet : 22 condelector enim legi Dei secundum interiorem hominem : 23 video autem aliam legem in membris meis, repugnantem legi mentis meæ, et captivantem me in lege peccati, quæ est in membris meis. 24 Infelix ego homo, quis me liberabit de corpore mortis hujus ? 25 gratia Dei per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Igitur ego ipse mente servio legi Dei : carne autem, legi peccati.