< Romans 13 >
1 Let every one obey the supreme Authorities. For no Authority exists except by the will of God, and the existing Authorities have been appointed by God.
每个人都应该服从当权者,因为除非上帝许可,否则没有人拥有统治的权力,这些权力均由上帝赋予。
2 Therefore he who sets himself against the authorities is resisting God’s appointment, and those who resist will bring a judgment upon themselves.
抗拒这权力即对抗上帝的安排,抗拒者自会遭受相应的审判。
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.
因为统治者不会威慑正义之人,而是威慑错误之人。只有正义行事,你就不会害怕这权力,才会得到他们的认可。
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.
当权者即上帝的仆人,他们当权也是为了你好。如果你犯错就应该感到害怕。毫无疑问,当权者自有权力予以惩罚!他们是上帝用于惩罚罪人的仆人。
5 You are bound, therefore, to obey, not only through fear of God’s punishments, but also as a matter of conscience.
因此,遵从劝诫至关重要,不只是因为犯错可能会遭受惩罚,这也是为了遵循你的良心。
6 This, too, is the reason for your paying taxes; for the officials are God’s officers, devoting themselves to this special work.
所以你也必须纳税,因为当权者是上帝负责处理这种事情的仆人。
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 honour where honour is due.
欠人钱就一定要还;该缴的税款一定要交;该付的费用一定要支付;尊重值得尊重之人,敬畏值得敬畏之人。
8 Owe nothing to any one except brotherly love; for he who loves his fellow men has satisfied the Law.
不要亏欠任何人,除非是出于对彼此的爱——因为爱其邻里之人即成就了律法。
9 The commandments, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there is, are all summed up in the words — ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thou dost thyself.’
“不可奸淫、不可杀人、不可偷盗、不可贪婪”——这些诫命的核心都在“爱人如己”这句话之中。
10 Love never wrongs a neighbour. Therefore Love fully satisfies the Law.
爱不会伤害任何人,所以爱成就律法。
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.
你必须这样做,因为你应该意识到现在时间多么紧迫,现在应该从睡梦中醒来。因为相比我们最初信任上帝之时,现在的我们距离拯救更近。
12 The night is almost gone; the day is near. Therefore let us have done with the deeds of Darkness, and arm ourselves with the weapons of Light.
夜已深,白昼即将来临!让我们摆脱黑暗的行为,披上光明的盔甲。
13 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.
让我们以得体的举止表明,我们生活在光明之中。我们不应该将时间用来设宴买醉,或追求不道德的放荡纵欲、纷争嫉妒。
14 No! Arm yourselves with the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and spend no thought on your earthly nature, to satisfy its cravings.
我们应该紧随主耶稣基督,而非屈从于个人罪恶的欲望。