Romans 13

1 Let every soul be subject to offices of authority that rank higher. For there is no office of authority if not by God, and the offices of authority that are by God are those that have been instituted.

Every person must be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

2 So that he who resists the office of authority has opposed the ordinance of God, and those who have opposed will receive condemnation to themselves.

So then, whoever resists authority opposes what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a source of fear to the good works, but to the evil. And do thou desire not to fear the office of authority? Do what is good, and thou will have praise from it.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil works. Do yoʋ wish to have no fear of the one in authority? Do what is good, and yoʋ will have praise from him.

4 For he is a helper of God to thee for what is good. But if thou do what is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is a helper of God, vengeful for wrath to the man who commits evil.

For he is God's servant for your good. But if yoʋ do evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. As God's servant, he is an avenger who executes wrath on the one who does evil.

5 Therefore there is a need to be subordinate, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience.

Therefore it is necessary to be subject to authority, not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience.

6 For because of this ye also fulfill taxes, for they are servants of God being devoted to this same thing.

That is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are servants of God, attending continually to this work.

7 Render therefore to all, the things due: tax to the man of tax, tribute to the man of tribute, fear to the man of fear, esteem to the man of esteem.

Therefore render to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

8 Owe no man anything except to love each other, for he who loves the other has fulfilled law.

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another, for he who loves others has fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not murder, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not testify falsely, Thou shall not covet, and if there be any other commandment it is summarized in this saying, in, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.

For the commandments, “Yoʋ shall not commit adultery, Yoʋ shall not murder, Yoʋ shall not steal, Yoʋ shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Yoʋ shall love yoʋr neighbor as yoʋrself.”

10 Love works no evil to the neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of law.

Love does no harm to its neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11 And this, knowing the time, that the hour is now for us to awake out of sleep. For our salvation is now nearer than when we believed.

And do this, knowing that the hour has now come for us to be awakened from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

12 The night has advanced and the day has approached. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the weapons of light.

The night is nearly over, and the day is almost here. So let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

13 Let us walk decently as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in beddings and wantonness, not in strife and envy.

Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelries and drinking bouts, not in illicit affairs and sensual indulgences, not in strife and jealousy.

14 But clothe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no forethought for lusts of the flesh.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.