Romans 13
1 Everyone should obey government authorities, because no one has the power to rule unless God gives permission. These authorities have been put there by God.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whoever resists the authorities opposes what God has put in place, and those who do so shall find themselves judged accordingly.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers don't frighten those who do right, but those who do wrong. If you don't want to live in fear of the authorities, then do what is right, and you'll have their 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 of the same:
4 Those in power are God's servants, put there for your own good. If you do wrong, you should be frightened—it's not without reason that authorities have the power to punish! They are God's servants, punishing offenders.
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 So it's important to do as you're told, not just because of the threat of punishment, but because of what your conscience tells you.
Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 That's why you have to pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants taking care of such things.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Pay whatever you owe: taxes to the tax authorities, fees to the fee-collectors; give respect to those who should be respected, honor those who should be honored.
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 Don't owe anybody anything, except love for one another—for those who love their neighbor have kept the law.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 “You must not commit adultery, you must not kill, you must not steal, you must not jealously want things for yourself”—these and the other commandments are summed up in the statement, “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 be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love doesn't do wrong to anyone, so love fulfils the law.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.
11 You should do this because you realize how urgent the time is—that it's high time for you to wake up from your sleep. For salvation is closer to us now than when we first put our trust in God.
And that, 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 is almost here! So let's get rid of our dark deeds 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's behave properly, showing that we're people who are living in the light. We shouldn't spend our time going to wild parties and getting drunk, or having affairs and acting immorally, or getting into fights and being jealous.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 Instead put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and forget about following your sinful desires.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof.]
