Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God,
Let every soul submit to the governing authorities, because there is no authority except under God, and the existing authorities have been placed by God.
2 so that he who is setting himself against the authority, has resisted against God’s ordinance; and those resisting will receive judgment to themselves.
Therefore whoever resists the authority is opposed to God's ordinance, and those who oppose will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and do you wish to not be afraid of the authority? Be doing that which is good, and you will have praise from it,
Now rulers are not a terror to good deeds but to bad ones. So if you wish not to fear the authority, do the good and you will have praise from the same;
4 for it is a servant of God to you for good; and if you may do that which is evil, be fearing, for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.
because it is God's minister to you with a view to the good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not bear the sword for nothing; because it is God's minister, an avenger with a view to wrath on the wrongdoer.
5 For this reason it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience,
Therefore it is necessary to submit, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience.
6 for because of this you also pay tribute; for they are servants of God, on this very thing attending continually;
This is precisely why you pay taxes, for they are God's servants, continually attending on this very thing.
7 render, therefore, to all [their] dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honor, the honor.
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor.
8 To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other—he has fulfilled law,
Owe no one anything except to love one another, since he who loves the other has fulfilled the law.
9 for, “You will not commit adultery, You will not murder, You will not steal, You will not bear false testimony, You will not covet”; and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: “You will love your neighbor as yourself”;
Because—“You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever further commandment—everything is summed up in this word, namely: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10 the love to the neighbor works no ill; the love, therefore, [is] the fullness of law.
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already [is] to be aroused out of sleep, for now our salvation [is] nearer than when we believed;
Besides this, knowing the time, it is high time for us to be awakened from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 the night advanced, and the day came near; let us lay aside, therefore, the works of the darkness, and let us put on the armor of the light;
The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us get rid of the works of the darkness, and let us put on the weapons of the light.
13 as in daytime, let us walk properly; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy;
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual orgies and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy.
14 but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and take no forethought for the flesh—for desires.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, with a view to lusts.
