Romans 7

1 My fellow believers, you know about laws. So you certainly know (OR, I want you to remember) that people have to obey laws [PRS] [only] while [they are] alive. [RHQ]

Wisset ihr nicht, liebe Brüder (denn ich rede mit denen, die das Gesetz wissen), daß das Gesetz herrschet über den Menschen, solange er lebet?

2 For example, a woman is required by the law {the law requires a woman} [to obey and be faithful to her husband] as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, she is freed [from having to] {[no longer has to]} [obey] the law about [remaining married to] her husband.

Denn ein Weib, das unter dem Manne ist, dieweil der Mann lebet, ist sie gebunden an das Gesetz; so aber der Mann stirbt, so ist sie los vom Gesetz, das den Mann betrifft.

3 Therefore, a woman will be called {people will call a woman} an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she no longer [has to obey] that law. Then she will not be an adulteress if she marries another man.

Wo sie nun bei einem andern Manne ist, weil der Mann lebet, wird sie eine Ehebrecherin geheißen; so aber der Mann stirbt, ist sie frei vom Gesetz, daß sie nicht eine Ehebrecherin ist, wo sie bei einem andern Manne ist.

4 Likewise, my fellow believers, [just like people are free from having to obey any law after they die] [MET], you [and I] have been freed {[God] has freed you [and me]} from having [to obey] all the Jewish rituals and laws [MET]. [That is because it is as though] we died with Christ [when he was crucified]. Now you [and I] belong to someone else [MET], [like a woman who marries again after her husband dies belongs to another man]. Specifically, you [and I] belong to [Christ], who has come back to life {whom [God] has caused to live again after he died}, in order that we may live righteously [IDM] to [honor] God.

Also auch, meine Brüder, ihr seid getötet dem Gesetz durch den Leib Christi, daß ihr bei einem andern seid, nämlich bei dem, der von den Toten auferwecket ist, auf daß wir Gott Frucht bringen.

5 When our self-directed nature [controlled] us, desires [that led us to] sin were acting in our bodies. [Those desires were increased because of our knowing God’s] laws [PRS]. As a result [we did evil things] [IDM] [that] caused us to be separated from God.

Denn da wir im Fleisch waren, da waren die sündlichen Lüste, welche durchs Gesetz sich erregten, kräftig in unsern Gliedern, dem Tode Frucht zu bringe.

6 But now we are freed {free} from [having to obey all the Jewish] rituals— [it is as though] we have died. The result is that now we are not controlled by those rituals {those rituals do not control us now}. So we serve God, not by [having to obey] those rituals, which is the old way, but in the new way, as [God’s] Spirit [helps us to serve him].

Nun aber sind wir vom Gesetz los und ihm abgestorben, das uns gefangenhielt, also daß wir dienen sollen im neuen Wesen des Geistes und nicht im alten Wesen des Buchstabens.

7 [Someone might object], saying, “(The laws [that God gave Moses] must be evil [if our sinful desires] are increased because of our knowing those laws. [MTY]/Are not the laws [that God gave Moses] evil [if they stir up our sinful desires]?)” [MTY, RHQ] [I would reply] that they certainly are not [evil, even though our sinful desires are increased]. What I would reply is that I, [for example], realized that [what I was doing] was sinful only because [of what is written] {[Moses wrote]} [in] those laws. For example, I realized that coveting [is sinful] only because he wrote in those laws [PRS], “You must not covet.”

Was wollen wir denn nun sagen? Ist das Gesetz Sünde? Das sei ferne! Aber die Sünde erkannte ich nicht ohne durchs Gesetz. Denn ich wußte nichts von der Lust, wo das Gesetz nicht hätte gesagt: Laß dich nicht gelüsten!

8 And because of what that commandment [stated], my sinful [desire to have things that belong to others] [PRS] caused me to covet in many ways. [Our desire to] sin is not stimulated [MET] when there is no law [that prohibits our doing sinful things].

Da nahm aber die Sünde Ursache am Gebot und erregte in mir allerlei Lust. Denn ohne das Gesetz war die Sünde tot.

9 Formerly, when I did not [know] what God’s laws [required], I used to live [without worrying about what I was doing]. But when I [became aware that God] commanded, [“You must not covet],” I suddenly realized [PRS] that I was sinning,

Ich aber lebte etwa ohne Gesetz. Da aber das Gebot kam, ward die Sünde wieder lebendig.

10 and [I realized that] I was separated from God. The laws that [I thought would enable me to] live [eternally as a result of my obeying them] caused me [to realize that] I was separated from God!

Ich aber starb; und es befand sich, daß das Gebot mir zum Tode gereichte, das mir doch zum Leben gegeben war.

11 [My desire to] sin found a way [PRS] to deceive me [by making me think wrongly that] I could keep [on sinning and at the same time obey] those laws [enough so that I would live eternally], and [thus it] caused me to be separated from God [PRS].

Denn die Sünde nahm Ursache am Gebot und betrog mich und tötete mich durch dasselbige Gebot.

12 So [we conclude that] the laws [that God gave to Moses] are holy. What God commanded [about not coveting, along with all the other things that he commanded], is also holy, and it is just and good.

Das Gesetz ist je heilig, und das Gebot ist heilig, recht und gut.

13 So, [if someone were to object] saying, “[The laws that God gave Moses], which are good, (resulted in my being separated from God!/did they result in my being separated from God?) [RHQ]” [I would reply], “Certainly they did not [do that]!” But instead, those [laws], which are good, stimulated [my desire to] sin. I knew that the result was that I was separated from God. And also, because I [learned what God had] commanded, [I knew that] what I was doing was [truly] sinful.

Ist denn, was da gut ist, mir ein Tod worden? Das sei ferne! Aber die Sünde, auf daß sie erscheine, wie sie Sünde ist, hat sie mir durch das Gute den Tod gewirket, auf daß die Sünde würde überaus sündig durchs Gebot.

14 We know that the laws [that God gave Moses came from God’s] Spirit. But as for me, I am [influenced by my] self-directed nature. [It is as though] I have been forced to become a slave of [my desire to] sin [MET].

Denn wir wissen, daß das Gesetz geistlich ist; ich aber bin fleischlich, unter die Sünde verkauft.

15 The things that I do, I [often] [HYP] do not understand. That is, [sometimes] [HYP] it is [the good things] that I want [to do] that I do not do. [And sometimes] [HYP] it is the [evil] things that I detest that I do.

Denn ich weiß nicht, was, ich tue; denn ich tue nicht, was ich will, sondern was ich hasse, das tue ich.

16 Since I [do] the [evil] things that I do not want [to] do, I agree that the laws [of God] are good.

So ich aber das tue, was ich nicht will, so willige ich, daß das Gesetz gut sei.

17 So, it is not that I do [evil things because I wish to do them]. Instead, [what happens is that] I do sinful things because the desire to sin [causes me to do them]. The [desire to] sin (is within/permeates) me [PRS].

So tue nun ich dasselbige nicht, sondern die Sünde, die in mir wohnet.

18 I know that my self-directed nature will not [let me] [PRS] [do] anything that is good. I know this because I want [to do what is good], but I do not do what is good.

Denn ich weiß, daß in mir, das ist, in meinem Fleische, wohnet nichts Gutes. Wollen habe ich wohl, aber vollbringen das Gute finde ich nicht,

19 I do not do the good things that I want to do. Instead, it is evil things that I do not want to do that I do.

Denn das Gute, das ich will, das tue ich nicht, sondern das Böse, das ich nicht will, das tue ich.

20 Because I do [evil things] that I do not want to do, it is not that I do [evil things because I want to]. Instead, [I do them because] my self-directed nature, which permeates me [PRS], [causes me to do them].

So ich aber tue, was ich nicht will, so tue ich dasselbige nicht, sondern die Sünde, die in mir wohnet.

21 I find, then, that what always happens is that when I want to do what is good, there is an evil [desire] present within me that [PRS] [prevents me from doing good].

So finde ich mir nun ein Gesetz, der ich will das Gute tun, daß mir das Böse anhanget.

22 With my new inner nature I like the laws of God very much.

Denn ich habe Lust an Gottes Gesetz nach dem inwendigen Menschen.

23 Nevertheless, I sense that there is a different force that is in (my body/me) [PRS, SYN]. It is opposed to what with my mind [I desire to do] [MET], and it puts me inescapably under the control of [MET] the sinful [desires] that I have [SYN].

Ich sehe aber ein ander Gesetz in meinen Gliedern, das da widerstreitet dem Gesetz in meinem Gemüte und nimmt mich gefangen in der Sünde Gesetz, welches ist in meinen Gliedern.

24 [When I consider this], I [feel that I] am a very wretched person. I want someone to set me free from the control of what my body [desires], in order that I might not be separated from God. [RHQ] [I also think that what I have experienced is the same as what all believers experience].

Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erlösen von dem Leibe dieses Todes?

25 I thank God that it is by Jesus Christ our Lord [that we can be free from the control of what our bodies desire]. So, [with our minds, you and] I on the one hand want to obey God’s laws. [But also], [you and] I [often let] our sinful [desires control us] because of our self-directed nature.

Ich danke Gott durch Jesum Christum, unsern HERRN. So diene ich nun mit dem Gemüte dem Gesetz Gottes, aber mit dem Fleisch dem Gesetze der Sünde.