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,

Every one should be in the higher authorities; for there is no authority apart from God. The authorities that now exist have been appointed 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 the man who rebels against authority is opposing the divine ordinances; and those who withstand 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,

For rulers are no terror to good deeds, but to evil. Would you be fearless of the ruler’s authority? Do what is good, and you will have his praise.

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.

For the ruler is God’s minister appointed for your good. But if you are a wrong-doer, be afraid; he does not carry the sword to no purpose; he is God’s servant, appointed to vengeance upon the guilty.

5 For this reason it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience,

Wherefore you must needs be in subjection, not only because of fear, but also for conscience sake.

6 for because of this you also pay tribute; for they are servants of God, on this very thing attending continually;

This too, is the reason why you pay taxes; because the authorities are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon 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 to all their dues; taxes to whom taxes, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, and homage to whom homage is due.

8 To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other—he has fulfilled law,

Never owe any one anything save the debt of brotherly love; for he who loves his neighbor 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”;

For the Law which says, Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet, and whatever other commandment there be - is all summed up in this one saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

10 the love to the neighbor works no ill; the love, therefore, [is] the fullness of law.

Love never wrongs his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilment 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;

Carry out these injunctions because you know the crisis that we are in, that now it is high time for you to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer 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 far spent; The day is at hand. Let is therefore take off the deeds of darkness, Let us put on the armor of 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 live honestly, as in the day, Not in reveling and drunkenness, Not in lust and licentiousness, Not is strife and jealousy;

14 but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and take no forethought for the flesh—for desires.

But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, And make no provisions for your earthly nature And the gratification of its lusts.