Romans 13

1 Let every soul be subject to the authorities that are above [him]. For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God.

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.

2 So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they who [thus] resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves.

Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil [one]. Dost thou desire then not to be afraid of the authority? practise [what is] good, and thou shalt have praise from it;

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.

4 for it is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.

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.

5 Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only on account of wrath, but also on account of conscience.

Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.

6 For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God's officers, attending continually on this very thing.

This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.

7 Render to all their dues: to whom tribute [is due], tribute; to whom custom, custom; to whom fear, fear; to whom honour, honour.

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.

8 Owe no one anything, unless to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.

Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

9 For, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not lust; and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

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.”

10 Love works no ill to its neighbour; love therefore [is the] whole law.

Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11 This also, knowing the time, that it is already time that we should be aroused out of sleep; for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.

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.

12 The night is far spent, and the day is near; let us cast away therefore the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

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.

13 As in the day, let us walk becomingly; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and lasciviousness, not in strife and emulation.

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take forethought for the flesh to [fulfil its] lusts.

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.