The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

7 For this ^(A)Melchizedek, king of ^(B)Salem, priest of ^(C)the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. ³ He is without father or mother ^(D)or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

⁴ See how great this man was to whom Abraham ^(E)the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! ⁵ And ^(F)those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,^[a] though these also are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But this man ^(G)who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed ^(H)him who had the promises. ⁷ It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. ⁸ In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one ^(I)of whom it is testified that ^(J)he lives. ⁹ One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Jesus Compared to Melchizedek

^11 (K)Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? ¹² For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. ¹³ For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord was descended ^(L)from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

¹⁵ This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is witnessed of him,

¹⁸ For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside ^(N)because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for ^(O)the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, ^(P)a better hope is introduced, through which ^(Q)we draw near to God.

²⁰ And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, ²¹ but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

²² This makes Jesus the guarantor of ^(S)a better covenant.

²³ The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues ^(T)forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost^{[b] (U)}those who draw near to God ^(V)through him, since he always lives ^(W)to make intercession for them.

²⁶ For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, ^(X)holy, innocent, unstained, ^(Y)separated from sinners, and ^(Z)exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, ^(AA)first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this ^(AB)once for all when he offered up himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints men ^(AC)in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made ^(AD)perfect forever.

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

8 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, ^(AE)one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ² a minister in the holy places, in ^(AF)the true tent^[c] that the Lord ^(AG)set up, not man. ³ For ^(AH)every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus ^(AI)it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. ⁴ Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. ⁵ They serve ^(AJ)a copy and ^(AK)shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ^(AL)“See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” ⁶ But as it is, Christ^[d] has obtained a ministry that is ^(AM)as much more excellent than the old as ^(AN)the covenant ^(AO)he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. ^7 (AP)For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

⁸ For he finds fault with them when he says:^[e]

¹³ In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And ^(AV)what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and ^(AW)an earthly place of holiness. ² For ^(AX)a tent^[f] was prepared, the first section, in which were ^(AY)the lampstand and ^(AZ)the table and ^(BA)the bread of the Presence.^[g] It is called the Holy Place. ³ Behind ^(BB)the second curtain was a second section^[h] called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ having the golden ^(BC)altar of incense and ^(BD)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(BE)a golden urn holding the manna, and ^(BF)Aaron's staff that budded, and ^(BG)the tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above it were ^(BH)the cherubim of glory overshadowing ^(BI)the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ These preparations having thus been made, ^(BJ)the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, ⁷ but into the second only ^(BK)the high priest goes, and he but ^(BL)once a year, and not without taking blood, ^(BM)which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. ⁸ By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^(BN)the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing ⁹ (which is symbolic for the present age).^[i] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(BO)that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, ¹⁰ but deal only with ^(BP)food and drink and ^(BQ)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest ^(BR)of the good things that have come,^[j] then through ^(BS)the greater and more perfect tent (^(BT)not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹² he ^(BU)entered ^(BV)once for all into the holy places, not by means of ^(BW)the blood of goats and calves but ^(BX)by means of his own blood, ^(BY)thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(BZ)the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^(CA)the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[k] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(CB)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^(CC)offered himself without blemish to God, ^(CD)purify our^[l] conscience ^(CE)from dead works ^(CF)to serve the living God.

¹⁵ Therefore he is ^(CG)the mediator of a new covenant, so that ^(CH)those who are called may ^(CI)receive the promised eternal inheritance, ^(CJ)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{[m] 16} For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For ^(CK)a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated ^(CL)without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took ^(CM)the blood of calves and goats, ^(CN)with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, ^(CO)“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both ^(CP)the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^(CQ)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

²³ Thus it was necessary for ^(CR)the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has entered, not into holy places ^(CS)made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God ^(CT)on our behalf. ²⁵ Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as ^(CU)the high priest enters ^(CV)the holy places every year with blood not his own, ²⁶ for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, ^(CW)he has appeared ^(CX)once for all ^(CY)at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as ^(CZ)it is appointed for man to die once, and ^(DA)after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once ^(DB)to bear the sins of ^(DC)many, will appear ^(DD)a second time, ^(DE)not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^(DF)waiting for him.

Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

10 For since the law has but ^(DG)a shadow ^(DH)of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ^(DI)it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But ^(DJ)in these sacrifices ^(DK)there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For ^(DL)it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Consequently, ^(DM)when Christ^[n] came into the world, he said,

⁸ When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in ^(DO)sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), ⁹ then he added, ^(DP)“Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will ^(DQ)we have been sanctified through the offering of ^(DR)the body of Jesus Christ ^(DS)once for all.

¹¹ And every priest stands ^(DT)daily at his service, ^(DU)offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, ^(DV)which can never take away sins. ¹² But when Christ^[o] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he ^(DW)sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time ^(DX)until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. ¹⁴ For by a single offering ^(DY)he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

¹⁷ then he adds,

¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The Full Assurance of Faith

^19 (EB)Therefore, brothers,^[p] since we have confidence to enter ^(EC)the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(ED)the new and living way that he opened for us through ^(EE)the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(EF)a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts ^(EG)sprinkled clean ^(EH)from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(EI)washed with pure water. ^23 (EJ)Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for ^(EK)he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And ^(EL)let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ^25 (EM)not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ^(EN)all the more as you see ^(EO)the Day drawing near.

²⁶ For ^(EP)if we go on sinning deliberately ^(EQ)after receiving the knowledge of the truth, ^(ER)there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ^27 (ES)but a fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(ET)a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ^28 (EU)Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^(EV)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one ^(EW)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned ^(EX)the blood of the covenant ^(EY)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(EZ)outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, ^(FA)“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^(FB)“The Lord will judge his people.” ^31 (FC)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But recall the former days when, after ^(FD)you were enlightened, you endured ^(FE)a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being ^(FF)publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴ For ^(FG)you had compassion on those in prison, and ^(FH)you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had ^(FI)a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has ^(FJ)a great reward. ³⁶ For ^(FK)you have need of endurance, so that ^(FL)when you have done the will of God you may ^(FM)receive what is promised. ³⁷ For,

³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

God's Righteousness Upheld

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? ² Much in every way. To begin with, ^(A)the Jews were entrusted with ^(B)the oracles of God. ^3 (C)What if some were unfaithful? ^(D)Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? ⁴ By no means! ^(E)Let God be true though ^(F)every one were a liar, as it is written,

⁵ But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict ^(I)wrath on us? (^(J)I speak in a human way.) ⁶ By no means! For then how could ^(K)God judge the world? ⁷ But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, ^(L)why am I still being condemned as a sinner? ⁸ And why not ^(M)do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

No One Is Righteous

⁹ What then? Are we Jews^[a] any better off?^[b] No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both ^(N)Jews and ^(O)Greeks, are ^(P)under sin, ¹⁰ as it is written:

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever ^(Y)the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, ^(Z)so that every mouth may be stopped, and ^(AA)the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰ For ^(AB)by works of the law no human being^[c] will be justified in his sight, since ^(AC)through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

²¹ But now ^(AD)the righteousness of God ^(AE)has been manifested apart from the law, although ^(AF)the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God ^(AG)through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. ^(AH)For there is no distinction: ²³ for ^(AI)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ^24 (AJ)and are justified ^(AK)by his grace as a gift, ^(AL)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God ^(AM)put forward as ^(AN)a propitiation ^(AO)by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in ^(AP)his divine forbearance he had passed over ^(AQ)former sins. ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

^27 (AR)Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸ For we hold that one is justified by faith ^(AS)apart from works of the law. ²⁹ Or ^(AT)is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, ³⁰ since ^(AU)God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and ^(AV)the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹ Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, ^(AW)our forefather according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but ^(AX)not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? ^(AY)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” ⁴ Now ^(AZ)to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. ⁵ And to the one who does not work but ^(BA)believes in^[d] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

⁹ Is this blessing then only for ^(BD)the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? ^(BE)For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. ^11 (BF)He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was ^(BG)to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, ¹² and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

¹³ For ^(BH)the promise to Abraham and his offspring ^(BI)that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ^14 (BJ)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. ¹⁵ For ^(BK)the law brings wrath, but ^(BL)where there is no law ^(BM)there is no transgression.

¹⁶ That is why it depends on faith, ^(BN)in order that the promise may rest on grace and ^(BO)be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, ^(BP)who is the father of us all, ¹⁷ as it is written, ^(BQ)“I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, ^(BR)who gives life to the dead and calls into existence ^(BS)the things that do not exist. ¹⁸ In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ^(BT)“So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was ^(BU)as good as dead (^(BV)since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered ^(BW)the barrenness^[e] of Sarah's womb. ²⁰ No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ fully convinced that ^(BX)God was able to do what he had promised. ²² That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” ²³ But ^(BY)the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, ²⁴ but for ours also. It will be counted to us ^(BZ)who believe in ^(CA)him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ^25 (CB)who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised ^(CC)for our justification.

Peace with God Through Faith

5 ^(CD)Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, ^(CE)we^[f] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also ^(CF)obtained access by faith^[g] into this grace ^(CG)in which we stand, and ^(CH)we^[h] rejoice^[i] in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we ^(CI)rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering ^(CJ)produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and ^(CK)hope does not put us to shame, because God's love ^(CL)has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

⁶ For ^(CM)while we were still weak, at the right time ^(CN)Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but ^(CO)God shows his love for us in that ^(CP)while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, ^(CQ)we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from ^(CR)the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if ^(CS)while we were enemies ^(CT)we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by ^(CU)his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received ^(CV)reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

¹² Therefore, just as ^(CW)sin came into the world through one man, and ^(CX)death through sin, and ^(CY)so death spread to all men^[j] because ^(CZ)all sinned— ¹³ for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but ^(DA)sin is not counted where there is no law. ¹⁴ Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not ^(DB)like the transgression of Adam, ^(DC)who was a type of ^(DD)the one who was to come.

¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for ^(DE)many. ¹⁶ And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For ^(DF)the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought ^(DG)justification. ¹⁷ For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness ^(DH)reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ Therefore, as one trespass^[k] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness^[l] leads to justification and life for ^(DI)all men. ¹⁹ For as by the one man's ^(DJ)disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's ^(DK)obedience the many will be made righteous. ²⁰ Now ^(DL)the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, ^(DM)grace abounded all the more, ²¹ so that, ^(DN)as sin reigned in death, ^(DO)grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? ^(DP)Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can ^(DQ)we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us ^(DR)who have been baptized ^(DS)into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were ^(DT)buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as ^(DU)Christ was raised from the dead by ^(DV)the glory of the Father, we too might walk in ^(DW)newness of life.

⁵ For ^(DX)if we have been united with him in ^(DY)a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ We know that ^(DZ)our old self^{[m] (EA)}was crucified with him in order that ^(EB)the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For ^(EC)one who has died ^(ED)has been set free^[n] from sin. ⁸ Now ^(EE)if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that ^(EF)Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; ^(EG)death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, ^(EH)once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves ^(EI)dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

¹² Let not ^(EJ)sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. ^13 (EK)Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but ^(EL)present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. ¹⁴ For ^(EM)sin ^(EN)will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? ^(EO)Are we to sin ^(EP)because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves ^(EQ)to anyone as obedient slaves,^[o] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But ^(ER)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the ^(ES)standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, ^(ET)having been set free from sin, ^(EU)have become slaves of righteousness. ^19 (EV)I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For ^(EW)just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members ^(EX)as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

^20 (EY)For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ^21 (EZ)But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things ^(FA)of which you are now ashamed? ^(FB)For the end of those things is death. ²² But now that you ^(FC)have been set free from sin and ^(FD)have become slaves of God, ^(FE)the fruit you get leads to sanctification and ^(FF)its end, eternal life. ^23 (FG)For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Released from the Law

7 Or do you not know, brothers^[p]—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? ² For ^(FH)a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.^{[q] 3} Accordingly, ^(FI)she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

⁴ Likewise, my brothers, ^(FJ)you also have died ^(FK)to the law ^(FL)through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, ^(FM)in order that we may bear fruit for God. ⁵ For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work ^(FN)in our members ^(FO)to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the ^(FP)new way of ^(FQ)the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.^[r]

The Law and Sin

⁷ What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, ^(FR)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if ^(FS)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, ^(FT)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. ^(FU)For apart from the law, sin lies dead. ⁹ I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. ¹⁰ The very commandment ^(FV)that promised life proved to be death to me. ¹¹ For sin, ^(FW)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, ^(FX)deceived me and through it killed me. ¹² So ^(FY)the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

¹³ Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, ^(FZ)sold under sin. ¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For ^(GA)I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with ^(GB)the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now ^(GC)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells ^(GD)in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ^19 (GE)For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, ^(GF)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²² For ^(GG)I delight in the law of God, ^(GH)in my inner being, ²³ but I see in my members ^(GI)another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from ^(GJ)this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.