< Romans 7 >

1 Brothers and sisters, (I'm speaking here to people who know the law), don't you see that the law has authority over someone only while they're alive?
ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲟ ⲛ̅ⲁⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲓ̈ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ. ϫⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲟ ⲛ̅ϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉϥⲟⲛϩ̅.
2 For example, a married woman is bound by the law to her husband while he's alive, but if he dies, she's released from this legal obligation to him.
ⲃ̅ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲥⲙⲏⲣ ⲉⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲟⲛϩ̅ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ. ⲉⲣϣⲁⲛⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲟⲩ ⲁⲥⲟⲩⲱⲥϥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡϩⲁⲓ̈.
3 So if she lives with another man while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery. However, if her husband dies and then she marries another man, she wouldn't be guilty of adultery.
ⲅ̅ⲁⲣⲁ ϭⲉ ⲉⲣⲉⲡϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲟⲛϩ̅ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲉⲥϣⲁⲛϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲕⲉϩⲁⲓ̈. ⲉⲣϣⲁⲛⲡϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲣⲙ̅ϩⲏ ⲧⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲙ̅ⲧⲣⲉⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲉⲥϣⲁⲛϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲕⲉϩⲁⲓ̈.
4 In the same way, my friends, you've become dead to the law through the body of Christ, and so now you belong to someone else—Christ, who was raised from the dead so that we could live a productive life for God.
ⲇ̅ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲙⲟⲩ ϩⲱⲧⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲧⲛ̅ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲕⲉⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ. ϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲉϯⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
5 While we were controlled by old nature, our sinful desires (as revealed by the law) were at work within us and resulted in death.
ⲉ̅ⲛ̅ⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲛϩⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲑⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲛⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲩⲉⲛⲉⲣⲅⲉⲓ ⲡⲉ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲛⲙⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛϯⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲙⲟⲩ.
6 But now we've been set free from the law, and have died to what kept us in chains, so that we can serve in the newness of the spirit and not the old letter of the law.
ⲋ̅ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲁⲛⲙⲟⲩ ⲁⲛⲟⲩⲱⲥϥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲛⲉⲩⲁⲙⲁϩⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲛ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅. ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛⲣ̅ϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲃⲣ̅ⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ̈.
7 So what do we conclude? That the law is sin? Of course not! I wouldn't have known what sin was unless the law defined it. I wouldn't have realized that wanting to have other people's things for myself was wrong without the law that says, “Don't desire for yourself what belongs to someone else.”
ⲍ̅ⲟⲩ ϭⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲛⲁϫⲟⲟϥ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲥⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ. ⲛⲉⲓ̈ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲏⲗ ϫⲉ ⲁⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲟⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲕⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓ.
8 But through this commandment sin found a way to stir up in me all kinds of selfish desires—for without law, sin is dead.
ⲏ̅ⲁⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲇⲉ ϫⲓ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲁⲫⲟⲣⲙⲏ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲁϥⲣ̅ϩⲱⲃ ϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ ⲉⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ. ⲁϫⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ.
9 I used to live without realizing what the law really meant, but when I understood the implications of that commandment, then sin came back to life, and I died.
ⲑ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲉⲉⲓⲟⲛϩ̅ ⲁϫⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲡⲉ. ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲉⲥⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲧⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ. ⲁⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲱⲛϩ̅.
10 I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life brought death instead,
ⲓ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲓ̈ⲙⲟⲩ. ⲁⲩϩⲉ ⲉϯⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲉⲧϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲉⲩⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲩⲙⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲓ̈.
11 because sin found a way through the commandment to deceive me, and used the commandment to kill me!
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲉⲁⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲓ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲁⲫⲟⲣⲙⲏ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲁϥⲉⲝⲁⲡⲁⲧⲁ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲓ̈. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ̅ ⲁϥⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ.
12 However, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ϭⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ. ⲟⲩⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲛ ⲧⲉ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲛ ⲧⲉ
13 Now would something that is good kill me? Of course not! But sin shows itself to be sin by using good to cause my death. So by means of the commandment, it's revealed how evil sin really is.
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲡⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲛ ϭⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲩⲙⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲡⲉ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲉϥⲉⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲡⲉ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲛ ⲉϥⲣ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲡⲙⲟⲩ. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲣ̅ϩⲟⲩⲉⲣⲉϥⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ·
14 We realize that the law is spiritual; but I'm all-too-human, a slave to sin.
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲧⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ⲧⲓⲕⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲥⲁⲣⲕⲓⲕⲟⲥ ⲉⲓ̈ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
15 I really don't understand what I'm doing. I do the things I don't want to do, and what I hate doing, that's what I do!
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲡⲉϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲛ̅ϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲁⲛ. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϯⲟⲩⲁϣϥ̅ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲉϯⲙⲟⲥⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ.
16 But if I'm saying that I do what I don't want to, this shows that I admit the law is good and right.
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ⲉϣϫⲉⲙ̅ⲡⲉϯⲟⲩⲁϣϥ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ϯϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ.
17 So it's no longer me who does this, but sin living in me—
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲁⲛ ϭⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲣ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲣⲟϥ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲏϩ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ.
18 for I know that there's nothing good in me as far as my sinful human nature is concerned. Even though I want to do good, I'm just not able to do it.
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲏϩ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅. ⲡⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲅⲁⲣ ϥⲕⲏ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈. ⲡⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲡⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲛ.
19 The good I want to do, I don't do; while the evil I don't want to do, that's what I end up doing!
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲛ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲛ ⲉϯⲟⲩⲁϣϥ̅ ⲡⲉϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲡⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲛ̅ϯⲟⲩⲁϣϥ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ.
20 However, if I'm doing what I don't want to, then it's no longer me doing it, but sin living in me.
ⲕ̅ⲉϣϫⲉⲙ̅ⲡⲉϯⲟⲩⲁϣϥ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲉⲓ̈ⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲁⲛ ϭⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲏϩ ϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ.
21 This is the principle I've discovered: if I want to do what's good, evil is always there too.
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ϯϩⲏⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲛϥ̅ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲁⲛ. ⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲉϣⲣ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ ϫⲉ ⲡ̅ⲡⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ ⲕⲏ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈·
22 My inner self is delighted with God's law,
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ϯϩⲏⲇⲁⲛⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧϩⲓϩⲟⲩⲛ.
23 but I see a different law at work within me that is at war with the law my mind has decided to follow, making me a prisoner of the law of sin that is within me.
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ϯⲛⲁⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲕⲉⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲉϥϯ ⲟⲩⲃⲉⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁϩⲏⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉϥⲁⲓⲭⲙⲁⲗⲱⲧⲓⲍⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲓ̈ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧϣⲟⲟⲡ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲗⲟⲥ.
24 I'm totally miserable! Who will rescue me from this body that's causing my death? Thank God—for he does this through Jesus Christ our Lord!
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲡⲧⲁⲗⲁⲓⲡⲱⲣⲟⲥ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲁϩⲙⲉⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲓ̈ⲙⲟⲩ·
25 Here's the situation: while I myself choose with my mind to obey God's law, my human nature obeys the law of sin.
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲡⲉϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϣⲏⲡ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ· ⲁⲣⲁ ϭⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲙⲉⲛ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲁϩⲏⲧ ϯⲟ ⲛ̅ϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ. ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ.

< Romans 7 >