King James Version KJV
New International Version NIV
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
16
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
17
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
19
I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
20
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
21
What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.