Romans 13

1 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.

Let, every soul, unto protecting authorities be in subjection; for there is no authority save by God, and, they that are in being, have by God been arranged, —

2 Therefore the one who sets themself against the authorities is resisting God’s appointment, and those who resist will bring a judgment on themselves.

So that, he who rangeth himself against the authority, against the arrangement of God opposeth himself, and, they who oppose, shall unto themselves a sentence of judgment receive.

3 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.

For, they who bear rule, are not a terror unto the good work but unto the evil. Wouldst thou not be afraid of the authority? That which is good, be thou doing, and thou shall have praise of the same;

4 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.

For, God’s minister, is he unto thee for that which is good. But, if, that which is evil, thou be doing, be afraid! For, not in vain, the sword he beareth; for, God’s minister, he is, —an avenger, unto anger, to him who practiseth what is evil.

5 You are bound, therefore, to obey, not only through fear of God’s punishments, but also as a matter of conscience.

Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, —not only because of the anger, but also because of the conscience;

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

For, because of this, are ye paying tribute also, —for, God’s ministers of state, they are, unto this very thing, giving constant attendance.

7 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 honor where honor is due.

Render unto all their dues, —unto whom tribute, tribute, unto whom tax, tax, unto whom fear, fear, unto whom honour, honour.

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

Nothing to any, be owing—save to be loving one another; for, he that loveth his neighbour, hath given to, law, its fulfillment.

9 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 neighbor as you love yourself.’

For, this—Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not commit murder, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not covet, and if there is any different commandment, in this word, is summed up, [namely]—Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love never wrongs a neighbor. Therefore love fully satisfies the Law.

Love, unto one’s neighbour, worketh not ill; Law’s fullness, therefore, is, love.

11 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.

And, this besides, —knowing the season—that it is an hour already for you out of sleep to be wakened; for, now, is our salvation nearer than when we believed:

12 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.

The night, is far spent and, the day, hath drawn near; let us, then, cast off the works of darkness, [and] let us put on the armour of light, —

13 Being in the light of day, let us live becomingly, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lust and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy.

As in daytime, becomingly let us walk: not in revellings and in drunken bouts, not in chamberings and in wanton deeds, not in strife and envy; —

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

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and, for the flesh, take not forethought to fulfil its covetings.