1 Are ye ignorant, brethren, (for I speak to those knowing law,) that law rules over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband so long as he is alive; but if the husband should die, she is clear from the law of the husband: 3 so then, the husband being alive, she shall be called an adulteress if she be to another man; but if the husband should die, she is free from the law, so as not to be an adulteress, though she be to another man. 4 So that, my brethren, ye also have been made dead to the law by the body of the Christ, to be to another, who has been raised up from among the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh the passions of sins, which were by the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit to death; 6 but now we are clear from the law, having died in that in which we were held, so that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.

7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? Far be the thought. But I had not known sin, unless by law: for I had not had conscience also of lust unless the law had said, Thou shalt not lust; 8 but sin, getting a point of attack by the commandment, wrought in me every lust; for without law sin was dead. 9 But I was alive without law once; but the commandment having come, sin revived, but I died. 10 And the commandment, which was for life, was found, as to me, itself to be unto death: 11 for sin, getting a point of attack by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 So that the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Did then that which is good become death to me? Far be the thought. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death to me by that which is good; in order that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am fleshly, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do, I do not own: for not what I will, this I do; but what I hate, this I practise. 16 But if what I do not will, this I practise, I consent to the law that it is right. 17 Now then it is no longer Ithat do it, but the sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, good does not dwell: for to will is there with me, but to do right I find not. 19 For I do not practise the good that I will; but the evil I do not will, that I do. 20 But if what I do not will, this I practise, it is no longer Ithat do it, but the sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then the law upon me who will to practise what is right, that with me evil is there. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man: 23 but I see another law in my members, warring in opposition to the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which exists in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of this body of death? 25 I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I myself with the mind serve God’s law; but with the flesh sin’s law.

1 Vennad ja õed, kas te ei tea – ma räägin neile, kes tunnevad seadust –, et seadusel on võim inimese üle vaid seni, kuni too elab. 2 Abielunaine on seaduslikult seotud oma mehega ta eluajal. Aga kui mees sureb, vabaneb naine kohustustest mehe ees. 3 Seepärast, kui ta mehe eluajal on teise mehega, nimetatakse teda abielurikkujaks. Aga kui mees sureb, on naine vaba seaduse alt, nii et ta ei ole teisele mehele minnes abielurikkuja.

4 Seega, mu vennad ja õed, teiegi olete surmatud Seadusele Kristuse ihu kaudu, et te kuuluksite teisele, kes on üles äratatud surnuist, et me kannaksime vilja Jumalale. 5 Sest kui me veel rikutud loomuse võimuses elasime, toimisid me liikmeis patused kired, mis said tugevaks Seaduse tõttu, ja me kandsime vilja surmale. 6 Aga nüüd me oleme vabanenud Seaduse võimusest, sest me surime sellele, mis meid kinni pidas. Enam ei teeni me Jumalat vanal viisil, kirjatähe järgi, vaid uuel viisil, Vaimus.

7 Mis me siis ütleme? Kas Seadus on patt? Kaugeltki mitte! Siiski, ma ei oleks tundnud pattu muidu kui Seaduse kaudu. Ma ei oleks teadnud, mida tähendab himustamine, kui Seadus poleks öelnud: „Ära himusta!" 8 Aga patt, saades tõuget käsust, tekitas minus kõikvõimalikke himusid. Sest ilma Seaduseta on patt surnud. 9 Mina elasin kord lahus Seadusest. Kui nüüd käsk tuli, ärkas patt ellu 10 ja mina surin. Seadus, mis pidi olema mulle eluks, osutus mulle surmaks. 11 Sest kui patt oli saanud käsusõnast tõuke, pettis ta mind ja tappis mind käsu abil. 12 Seega on Seadus püha ning käsk on püha, õiglane ja hea.

13 Kas nüüd see hea on mulle saanud surmaks? Kaugeltki mitte. Aga et patt oleks nähtav patuna, on see toonud selle hea kaudu mulle surma. Nii sai patt käsu abil ülimalt patuseks. 14 Me ju teame, et Seadus on vaimulik, mina aga lihalik, müüdud orjaks patu võimusesse. 15 Sest ma ei mõista oma tegusid. Ma ei tee seda, mida tahan, vaid ma teen, mida vihkan. 16 Aga kui ma teen, mida ma ei taha, siis ma nõustun, et Seadus on hea. 17 Nii ei tee seda enam mina, vaid minus pesitsev patt. 18 Sest ma tean, et minus, see tähendab mu rikutud loomuses, ei peitu midagi head. Tahet mul on, aga head teha ma ei suuda. 19 Sest ma ei tee head, mida ma tahan, vaid üksnes halba, mida ma ei taha. 20 Aga kui ma teen just seda, mida ma ei taha, siis ei ole see enam mina, kes tegutseb, vaid minus pesitsev patt.

21 Seega avastan ma seaduse: kuigi ma tahan teha head, on mulle omane teha kurja. 22 Sest oma sisemise inimesega ma tunnen rõõmu Jumala Seadusest, 23 kuid oma liikmetes näen ma teist seadust, mis sõdib vastu minu mõistuse seadusele ja võtab mind vangi mu liikmeis oleva patu seaduse alla. 24 Oh mind armetut inimest! Kes päästab mind sellest surmale määratud ihust? 25 Aga tänu Jumalale, meie Issanda Jeesuse Kristuse läbi!

Niisiis, ma teenin mõistusega küll Jumala Seadust, aga oma rikutud loomusega patu seadust.