Romans 13
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but from God: the powers that are, are ordained by God.
2 Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Whoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves condemnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:
4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou doest that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.
Therefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.
For for this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Love worketh no ill to one’s neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
And this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in revellings and drunkenness, not in immorality and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the lusts of flesh.
