Romans 13

1 Let euery soule be subiect vnto the higher powers: for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be, are ordeined of 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 Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receiue to themselues condemnation.

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 Magistrates are not to be feared for good workes, but for euill. Wilt thou then bee without feare of the power? doe well: so shalt thou haue praise of the same.

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 ye minister of God for thy wealth, but if thou do euill, feare: for he beareth not the sworde for nought: for he is the minister of God to take vengeance on him that doeth euill.

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 Wherefore ye must bee subiect, not because of wrath only, 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, for this cause ye pay also tribute: for they are Gods ministers, applying themselues for the same thing.

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

7 Giue to all men therefore their duetie: tribute, to whome yee owe tribute: custome, to whom custome: feare, to whome feare: honour, to whom ye owe honour.

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 nothing to any man, but to loue one another: for he that loueth another, hath fulfilled the Lawe.

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

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adulterie, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false witnes, Thou shalt not couet: and if there be any other commandement, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, euen in this, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe.

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 Loue doeth not euill to his neighbour: therefore is loue the fulfilling of the Lawe.

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

11 And that, considering the season, that it is now time that we should arise from sleepe: for now is our saluation neerer, then when we beleeued it.

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 past, and the day is at hande, let vs therefore cast away the workes of darkenesse, and let vs put on the armour 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 So that wee walke honestly, as in the day: not in gluttonie, and drunkennesse, neither in chambering and wantonnes, nor in strife and enuying.

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 yee on the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and take no thought for the flesh, to fulfill the lustes of it.

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