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.

What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead.

For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.

And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death.

For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death.