Romans 13
1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
Everyone should obey government authorities, because no one has the power to rule unless God gives permission. These authorities have been put there by God.
2 Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgement.
Whoever resists the authorities opposes what God has put in place, and those who do so shall find themselves judged accordingly.
3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority,
For rulers don't frighten those who do right, but those who do wrong. If you don't want to live in fear of the authorities, then do what is right, and you'll have their approval.
4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
Those in power are God's servants, put there for your own good. If you do wrong, you should be frightened—it's not without reason that authorities have the power to punish! They are God's servants, punishing offenders.
5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
So it's important to do as you're told, not just because of the threat of punishment, but because of what your conscience tells you.
6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing.
That's why you have to pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants taking care of such things.
7 Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.
Pay whatever you owe: taxes to the tax authorities, fees to the fee-collectors; give respect to those who should be respected, honor those who should be honored.
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law.
Don't owe anybody anything, except love for one another—for those who love their neighbor have kept the law.
9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
“You must not commit adultery, you must not kill, you must not steal, you must not jealously want things for yourself”—these and the other commandments are summed up in the statement, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbour. Love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.
Love doesn't do wrong to anyone, so love fulfils the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.
You should do this because you realize how urgent the time is—that it's high time for you to wake up from your sleep. For salvation is closer to us now than when we first put our trust in God.
12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armour of light.
The night is nearly over, the day is almost here! So let's get rid of our dark deeds and put on the armor of light.
13 Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.
Let's behave properly, showing that we're people who are living in the light. We shouldn't spend our time going to wild parties and getting drunk, or having affairs and acting immorally, or getting into fights and being jealous.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
Instead put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and forget about following your sinful desires.
