Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 7:21:
Uma: “That-that is what happens in my life: I want to do good behavior, but in fact it is evil behavior that I end up doing.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Therefore this is already like my custom/behavior. Even though I want to do good it is as if there is something urging me to do bad and that’s what I do.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This is always what happens to me; if I want to do good I am hindered by the evil desires in my body.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Therefore what I have experienced is this. If I want to do what is good, I persist nevertheless in doing what is evil.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Thus is what happened to me. When I wanted to do good, then it seemed that only the evil which came to my heart is what I did.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
The Greek, Hebrew, and Ge’ez that is translated in English as “Law” or “law” is translated in Mairasi as oro nasinggiei or “prohibited things” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Noongar with a capitalized form of the term for “words” (Warrinya) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
In Yucateco the phrase that is used for “law” is “ordered-word” (for “commandment,” it is “spoken-word”) (source: Nida 1947, p. 198) and in Central Tarahumara it is “writing-command.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
Verses 21-23 are a summary of what Paul has been saying thus far in the chapter. The last half of the verse is rendered in a variety of ways in the different translations. The Revised Standard Version attempts a literal translation (“evil lies close at hand”), but in so doing it fails to bring out the impact of what Paul is saying. For example, the verb that the Revised Standard Version here translates “lies close at hand” is also used in the last part of verse 18 in the literal Greek clause “for the will (to do good) is present in me.” The Revised Standard Version translates this clause as “I can will what is right” and the Good News Translation as the desire to do good is in me. That is to say, the verb used here and in verse 18 means not merely that something is near, but that it is within one’s grasp and present within one’s self. On the basis of this observation the Good News Translation transforms this part of the verse to read what is evil is the only choice I have; this is also the basis of Moffatt (“but wrong is all that I can manage”) and for the New English Bible (“only the wrong is within my reach”)
The initial clause, so I find that this law is at work, involves several problems. First, one must indicate clearly that this is a type of summary statement, introduced by some such particle as “so,” “therefore,” or “hence.” The term for law is best understood in this context as a “principle.” This use of law has nothing to do with “the law of God.” Where there are special difficulties in rendering a term such as “principle,” one may say “hence I find that this is what is happening in me.”
The temporal clause, when I want to do what is good, may also be treated as concessive—for example, “although I want to do what is good.” The final clause, what is evil is the only choice I have, may be rendered as “I can only choose what is evil” or “the only thing I can do is to choose what is evil.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me: The Greek is literally “So I find the law/principle to/regarding the I-wanting to/for me to do the good, that to/for me the evil is present.” It indicates that Paul found that a law or rule in his life was this: He wanted to do the good thing, but evil was always there to influence him to do the bad thing. Here are other ways to translate these words:
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me (King James Version)
-or-
this is now what I have observed, as soon as I want to do something good, it is immediately blocked by the evil residing within me
7:21a
So: This word introduces a conclusion about what Paul said earlier.
this is the principle: Here the word principle refers to a principle: a general statement about the way something is. Paul then stated the principle: “When I want to do good, evil is right there with me (7:21b–c).” The word does not refer to the law of Moses here. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
this law (New International Version)
-or-
a law (English Standard Version)
I have discovered: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as discovered indicates that Paul looked at the facts of the situation and discovered a truth that he then told us in the words that follow.
In some languages a literal translation would not indicate the meaning above. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:
find (English Standard Version)
-or-
experienced
-or-
see
7:21b
When I want to do good: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When I want is literally “when the wanting to do good is with me.” It refers generally to any time or even all the time. It does not limit it to only some of the time. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Although I want to do good (New International Version (2011))
-or-
I want to do good ⌊things/deeds⌋
good: This word is translated as “good” in 7:16. It refers to deeds that God considers are good to do.
7:21c
evil is right there with me: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as right there with me is literally “present and ready for some purpose or action.” Evil was ready to influence Paul to do something wrong. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
evil is present in me (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
evil lies close at hand (English Standard Version)
This clause speaks of evil as if it were a physical thing. Some languages may have to translate in a different way. For example:
the thought to do evil is always there in me
-or-
evil desires are there, ready ⌊to influence⌋ me ⌊to do evil⌋
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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