Romans 7:5-24

5For while we were 1in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were 2brought to light by the Law, were at work 3in 4the parts of our body to bear fruit for death. 6But now we have been 5released from the Law, having 6died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in 7newness of 8the 9Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

710What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? 1112Far from it! On the contrary, 13I would not have come to know sin except 14through the Law; for I would not have known about 15coveting if the Law had not said, “16You shall not 17covet.” 8But sin, 18taking an opportunity 19through the commandment, produced in me 20coveting of every kind; for 21apart 22from the Law sin is dead. 9I was once alive apart 23from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; 10and this commandment, which was 2425to result in life, proved 26to result in death for me; 11for sin, 27taking an opportunity 28through the commandment, 29deceived me, and through it, killed me. 1230So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? 3132Far from it! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by bringing about my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

14For we know that the Law is 33spiritual, but I am 34fleshly, 35sold 3637into bondage to sin. 15For 38I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing 39what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. 16However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with 40the Law, that the Law is good. 17But now, 41no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. 18For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my 42flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19For 43the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20But if I do the very thing I do not want, 44I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me.

21I find then 45the 46principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22For I joyfully agree with the law of God 47in 48the inner person, 23but I see 49a different law in 50the parts of my body waging war against the 51law of my mind, and making me a prisoner 52of 53the law of sin, the law which is in 54my body’s parts. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from 5556the body of this 57death?