Romans 13

1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.

Let everyone obey the supreme authorities. For no authority exists except by the will of God, and the existing authorities have been appointed by God.

2 Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.

Therefore the one who sets themself against the authorities is resisting God’s appointment, and those who resist will bring a judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority,

A good action has nothing to fear from rulers; a bad action has. Do you want to have no reason to fear the authorities? Then do what is good, and you will win their praise.

4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

For they are God’s servants appointed for your good. But, if you do what is wrong, you may well be afraid; for the sword they carry is not without meaning! They are God’s servants to inflict his punishments on those who do wrong.

5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

You are bound, therefore, to obey, not only through fear of God’s punishments, but also as a matter of conscience.

6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing.

This, too, is the reason for your paying taxes; for the officials are God’s officers, devoting themselves to this special work.

7 Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

In all cases pay what is due from you – tribute where tribute is due, taxes where taxes are due, respect where respect is due, and honour where honour is due.

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Owe nothing to anyone except love; for they who love their neighbour have satisfied the Law.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The commandments, “You must not commit adultery, you must not kill, you must not steal, you must not covet,” and whatever other commandment there is, are all summed up in the words – “You must love your neighbour as you love yourself.”

10 Love does not harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Love never wrongs a neighbour. Therefore love fully satisfies the Law.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.

This I say, because you know the crisis that we have reached, for the time has already come for you to rouse yourselves from sleep; our salvation is nearer now than when we accepted the faith.

12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.

The night is almost gone; the day is near. Therefore let us be done with the deeds of darkness, and arm ourselves with the weapons of light.

13 Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

Being in the light of day, let us live becomingly, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lust and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy.

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

No! Arm yourselves with the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and spend no thought on your earthly nature, to satisfy its cravings.