Romans 7; Psalm 119:49-104 (New International Version)

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Romans 7

New International Version (NIV)

Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

7 Do you not know, brothers and sisters −for I am speaking to those who know the law−that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? ²For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. ³So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

⁴So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ⁵For when we were in the realm of the flesh,^[a] the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. ⁶But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

The Law and Sin

⁷What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."^[b] ⁸But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. ⁹Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. ¹⁰I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. ¹¹For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. ¹²So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

¹³Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

¹⁴We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do−this I keep on doing. ²⁰Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²²For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature^[d] a slave to the law of sin.

Footnotes:

Romans 7:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
Romans 7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21
Romans 7:18 Or my flesh
Romans 7:25 Or in the flesh

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Psalm 119:49-104

New International Version (NIV)

ז Zayin

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
⁵⁰My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.
⁵¹The arrogant mock me unmercifully,
but I do not turn from your law.
⁵²I remember, Lord, your ancient laws,
and I find comfort in them.
⁵³Indignation grips me because of the wicked,
who have forsaken your law.
⁵⁴Your decrees are the theme of my song
wherever I lodge.
⁵⁵In the night, Lord, I remember your name,
that I may keep your law.
⁵⁶This has been my practice:
I obey your precepts.

ח Heth

⁵⁷You are my portion, Lord;
I have promised to obey your words.
⁵⁸I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹I have considered my ways
and have turned my steps to your statutes.
⁶⁰I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.
⁶¹Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
I will not forget your law.
⁶²At midnight I rise to give you thanks
for your righteous laws.
⁶³I am a friend to all who fear you,
to all who follow your precepts.
⁶⁴The earth is filled with your love, Lord;
teach me your decrees.

ט Teth

⁶⁵Do good to your servant
according to your word, Lord.
⁶⁶Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I trust your commands.
⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.
⁶⁸You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.
⁶⁹Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
I keep your precepts with all my heart.
⁷⁰Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
but I delight in your law.
⁷¹It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
⁷²The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

י Yodh

⁷³Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.
⁷⁴May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.
⁷⁵I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.
⁷⁷Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
⁷⁸May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on your precepts.
⁷⁹May those who fear you turn to me,
those who understand your statutes.
⁸⁰May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees,
that I may not be put to shame.

כ Kaph

⁸¹My soul faints with longing for your salvation,
but I have put my hope in your word.
⁸²My eyes fail, looking for your promise;
I say, "When will you comfort me?"
⁸³Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget your decrees.
⁸⁴How long must your servant wait?
When will you punish my persecutors?
⁸⁵The arrogant dig pits to trap me,
contrary to your law.
⁸⁶All your commands are trustworthy;
help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.
⁸⁷They almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
⁸⁸In your unfailing love preserve my life,
that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

ל Lamedh

⁸⁹Your word, Lord, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.
⁹⁰Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
you established the earth, and it endures.
⁹¹Your laws endure to this day,
for all things serve you.
⁹²If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
⁹³I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have preserved my life.
⁹⁴Save me, for I am yours;
I have sought out your precepts.
⁹⁵The wicked are waiting to destroy me,
but I will ponder your statutes.
⁹⁶To all perfection I see a limit,
but your commands are boundless.

מ Mem

⁹⁷Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
⁹⁸Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies.
⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
¹⁰⁰I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
¹⁰¹I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
¹⁰²I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.