10. and I died. The very command that was supposed to bring life to me, instead brought death.
11. Sin used this command to trick me, and because of it I died.
12. Still, the Law and its commands are holy and correct and good.
13. Am I saying that something good caused my death? Certainly not! It was sin that killed me by using something good. Now we can see how terrible and evil sin really is.
14. We know that the Law is spiritual. But I am merely a human, and I have been sold as a slave to sin.
15. In fact, I don't understand why I act the way I do. I don't do what I know is right. I do the things I hate.
16. Although I don't do what I know is right, I agree that the Law is good.
17. So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
18. I know that my selfish desires won't let me do anything that is good. Even when I want to do right, I cannot.
19. Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong.
20. And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
21. The Law has shown me that something in me keeps me from doing what I know is right.
22. With my whole heart I agree with the Law of God.
23. But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do.