Romans 7:7

King James Version (KJV)

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.

Translations

Romans 7:7 - Amplified Bible

What then do we conclude? Is the Law identical with sin? Certainly not! Nevertheless, if it had not been for the Law, I should not have recognized sin {or} have known its meaning. [For instance] I would not have known about covetousness [would have had no consciousness of sin or sense of guilt] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, You shall not covet {and} have an evil desire [for one thing and another].

Romans 7:7 - American Standard Version

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:

Romans 7:7 - Bible in Basic English

What then is to be said? is the law sin? in no way. But I would not have had knowledge of sin but for the law: for I would not have been conscious of desire if the law had not said, You may not have a desire for what is another's.

Romans 7:7 - Darby Bible

What shall we say then? [is] the law sin? Far be the thought. But I had not known sin, unless by law: for I had not had conscience also of lust unless the law had said, Thou shalt not lust;

Romans 7:7 - English Standard Version

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."

Romans 7:7 - King James Version

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.

Romans 7:7 - La Biblia de las Americas

¿Qué diremos entonces? ¿Es pecado la ley? ¡De ningùn modo! Al contrario, yo no hubiera llegado a conocer el pecado si no hubiera sido por medio de la ley; porque yo no hubiera sabido lo que es la codicia, si la ley no hubiera dicho: NO CODICIARAS.

Romans 7:7 - The Message

But I can hear you say, "If the law code was as bad as all that, it’s no better than sin itself." That’s certainly not true. The law code had a perfectly legitimate function. Without its clear guidelines for right and wrong, moral behavior would be mostly guesswork. Apart from the succinct, surgical command, "You shall not covet," I could have dressed covetousness up to look like a virtue and ruined my life with it.

Romans 7:7 - New American Standard Bible

What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET."

Romans 7:7 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

¿Qué diremos entonces? ¿Es pecado la Ley? ¡De ningùn modo! Al contrario, yo no hubiera llegado a conocer el pecado si no hubiera sido por medio de la Ley. Porque yo no hubiera sabido lo que es la codicia, si la Ley no hubiera dicho: "NO CODICIARAS."

Romans 7:7 - World English Bible

What will we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! However, I wouldn`t have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn`t have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."

Romans 7:7 - Young's Living Translation

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:

Romans 7:7 - Additional Comments

Is the law sin? It sure sounds like it, for it seems that without it we would not have sin! No, not true, for the law merely defines God's character, which we cannot live up to. Yet, it is still a requirement, even before it was written down.
We can compare the law to a doctor who diagnoses patients, who can completely determine what is wrong, but who never provides the cure. The provides no cure to sin, it only reveals it.

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