Romanos 7

1 An ignoratis fratres (scientibus enim legem loquor) quia lex in homine dominatur quanto tempore vivit?

Are ye ignorant, brethren — for to those knowing law I speak — that the law hath lordship over the man as long as he liveth?

2 Nam quae sub viro est mulier, vivente viro, alligata est legi: si autem mortuus fuerit vir eius, soluta est a lege viri.

for the married woman to the living husband hath been bound by law, and if the husband may die, she hath been free from the law of the husband;

3 Igitur, vivente viro, vocabitur adultera si fuerit cum alio viro: si autem mortuus fuerit vir eius, liberata est a lege viri: ut non sit adultera si fuerit cum alio viro.

so, then, the husband being alive, an adulteress she shall be called if she may become another man's; and if the husband may die, she is free from the law, so as not to be an adulteress, having become another man's.

4 Itaque fratres mei et vos mortificati estis legi per corpus Christi: ut sitis alterius, qui ex mortuis resurrexit, ut fructificetis Deo.

So that, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of the Christ, for your becoming another's, who out of the dead was raised up, that we might bear fruit to God;

5 Cum enim essemus in carne, passiones peccatorum, quae per legem erant, operabantur in membris nostris, ut fructificarent morti.

for when we were in the flesh, the passions of the sins, that [are] through the law, were working in our members, to bear fruit to the death;

6 nunc autem soluti sumus a lege mortis, in qua detinebamur, ita ut serviamus in novitate spiritus, et non in vetustate litterae.

and now we have ceased from the law, that being dead in which we were held, so that we may serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.

7 Quid ergo dicemus? lex peccatum est? Absit. Sed peccatum non cognovi, nisi per legem: nam concupiscentiam nesciebam, nisi lex diceret: Non concupisces.

What, then, shall we say? the law [is] sin? let it not be! but the sin I did not know except through law, for also the covetousness I had not known if the law had not said:

8 Occasione autem accepta, peccatum per mandatum operatum est in me omnem concupiscentiam. Sine lege enim peccatum mortuum erat.

'Thou shalt not covet;' and the sin having received an opportunity, through the command, did work in me all covetousness — for apart from law sin is dead.

9 Ego autem vivebam sine lege aliquando. Sed cum venisset mandatum, peccatum revixit.

And I was alive apart from law once, and the command having come, the sin revived, and I died;

10 Ego autem mortuus sum: et inventum est mihi mandatum, quod erat ad vitam, hoc esse ad mortem.

and the command that [is] for life, this was found by me for death;

11 Nam peccatum occasione accepta per mandatum, seduxit me, et per illud occidit.

for the sin, having received an opportunity, through the command, did deceive me, and through it did slay [me];

12 Itaque lex quidem sancta, et mandatum sanctum, et iustum, et bonum.

so that the law, indeed, [is] holy, and the command holy, and righteous, and good.

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.

That which is good then, to me hath it become death? let it not be! but the sin, that it might appear sin, through the good, working death to me, that the sin might become exceeding sinful through the command,

14 Scimus enim quia lex spiritualis est: ego autem carnalis sum venundatus sub peccato.

for we have known that the law is spiritual, and I am fleshly, sold by the sin;

15 Quod enim operor, non intelligo. non enim quod volo bonum, hoc ago: sed quod odi malum, illud facio.

for that which I work, I do not acknowledge; for not what I will, this I practise, but what I hate, this I do.

16 Si autem quod nolo, illud facio: consentio legi, quoniam bona est.

And if what I do not will, this I do, I consent to the law that [it is] good,

17 Nunc autem iam non ego operor illud, sed quod habitat in me peccatum.

and now it is no longer I that work it, but the sin dwelling in me,

18 Scio enim quia non habitat in me, hoc est in carne mea, bonum. Nam velle, adiacet mihi: perficere autem bonum, non invenio.

for I have known that there doth not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh, good: for to will is present with me, and to work that which is right I do not find,

19 Non enim quod volo bonum, hoc ago: sed quod odi malum, illud facio.

for the good that I will, I do not; but the evil that I do not will, this I practise.

20 Si autem quod nolo, illud facio: iam non ego operor illud, sed quod habitat in me, peccatum.

And if what I do not will, this I do, it is no longer I that work it, but the sin that is dwelling in me.

21 Invenio igitur legem, volenti mihi facere bonum, quoniam mihi malum adiacet:

I find, then, the law, that when I desire to do what is right, with me the evil is present,

22 condelector enim legi Dei secundum interiorem hominem:

for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man,

23 video autem aliam legem in membris meis, repugnantem legi mentis meae, et captivantem me in lege peccati, quae est in membris meis.

and I behold another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of the sin that [is] in my members.

24 Infelix ego homo, quis me liberabit de corpore mortis huius?

A wretched man I [am]! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?

25 Gratia Dei per Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Igitur ego ipse mente servio legi Dei: carne autem, legi peccati.

I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord; so then, I myself indeed with the mind do serve the law of God, and with the flesh, the law of sin.