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:

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.

Τι λοιπον θελομεν ειπει; ο νομος ειναι αμαρτια; Μη γενοιτο. Αλλα την αμαρτιαν δεν εγνωρισα, ειμη δια του νομου· διοτι και την επιθυμιαν δεν ηθελον γνωρισει, εαν ο νομος δεν ελεγε· Μη επιθυμησης.

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.