律法的约束力
弟兄们，我对你们这些明白律法的人说，你们岂不知道律法约束人是在他活着的时候吗？
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2就如女人有了丈夫，丈夫还活着，她就被律法约束；丈夫若死了，她就从丈夫的律法中解脱了。For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3所以丈夫还活着，她若跟了别的男人，就叫淫妇；丈夫若死了，她就脱离了律法，虽然跟了别的男人，也不是淫妇。So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4我的弟兄们，这样说来，你们藉着基督的身体对律法也是死了，使你们归于另一位，就是归于那从死人中复活的，为要使我们结果子给神。Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5因为我们属肉体的时候，那因律法而生犯罪的欲望在我们肢体中发动，以致结出死亡的果子。For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6但如今，我们既然在捆绑我们的律法上死了，就从律法中解脱，使我们服侍主，要按着圣灵☛“圣灵”或译“灵”。的新样，不按着仪文的旧样。But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
律法与罪的关系
7这样，我们要怎么说呢？律法是罪吗？绝对不是！但是，若不是藉着律法，我就不知何为罪；若不是律法说“不可贪心”，我就不知何为贪心。What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8然而，罪趁着机会，藉着诫命，使各样的贪心在我里头发动，因为没有律法，罪是死的。But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9以前没有律法的时候，我是活的；但是诫命来到，罪活起来，For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10我就死了。那本该叫人活的诫命反而叫我死。And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11因为罪趁着机会，藉着诫命诱惑我，并且藉着诫命杀了我。For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12这样看来，律法是圣的，诫命也是圣的、义的、善的。Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13那么，那善的是叫我死吗？绝对不是！叫我死的是罪。罪藉着那善的叫我死，为要显出这真是罪，以致罪藉着诫命更显出是恶极了。Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
灵与肉的交战
14我们原知道律法是属灵的，我却是属肉体的，是已经卖给罪了。For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15因为我所做的，我自己不明白。我所愿意的，我并不做；我所恨恶的，我反而去做。For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16如果我所做的是我所不愿意的，我得承认律法是善的。If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17事实上，这不是我做的，而是住在我里面的罪做的。Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18我也知道，住在我里面的，就是我肉体之中，没有善。因为立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我。For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19我所愿意的善，我不去做；我所不愿意的恶，我反而去做。For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20如果我去做我不愿意做的，就不是我做的，而是住在我里面的罪做的。Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21我觉得有个律，就是我愿意行善的时候，就有恶缠着我。I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22因为，按着我里面的人，我喜欢神的律，For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23但我看出肢体中另有个律和我内心的律交战，把我掳去，使我附从那肢体中罪的律。But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24我真苦啊！谁能救我脱离这必死的身体呢？O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25感谢神，靠着我们的主耶稣基督就能！这样看来，一方面，我内心顺服神的律，另一方面，肉体却顺服罪的律了。I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.