Προς Ρωμαιους 13
1 πασα ψυχη εξουσιαις υπερεχουσαις υποτασσεσθω ου γαρ εστιν εξουσια ει μη απο θεου αι δε ουσαι εξουσιαι υπο του θεου τεταγμεναι εισιν
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.
2 ωστε ο αντιτασσομενος τη εξουσια τη του θεου διαταγη ανθεστηκεν οι δε ανθεστηκοτες εαυτοις κριμα ληψονται
Therefore the one who sets themself against the authorities is resisting God’s appointment, and those who resist will bring a judgment on themselves.
3 οι γαρ αρχοντες ουκ εισιν φοβος των αγαθων εργων αλλα των κακων θελεις δε μη φοβεισθαι την εξουσιαν το αγαθον ποιει και εξεις επαινον εξ αυτης
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.
4 θεου γαρ διακονος εστιν σοι εις το αγαθον εαν δε το κακον ποιης φοβου ου γαρ εικη την μαχαιραν φορει θεου γαρ διακονος εστιν εκδικος εις οργην τω το κακον πρασσοντι
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.
5 διο αναγκη προτασσεσθαι ου μονον δια την οργην αλλα και δια την συνειδησιν
You are bound, therefore, to obey, not only through fear of God’s punishments, but also as a matter of conscience.
6 δια τουτο γαρ και φορους τελειτε λειτουργοι γαρ θεου εισιν εις αυτο τουτο προσκαρτερουντες
This, too, is the reason for your paying taxes; for the officials are God’s officers, devoting themselves to this special work.
7 αποδοτε ουν πασιν τας οφειλας τω τον φορον τον φορον τω το τελος το τελος τω τον φοβον τον φοβον τω την τιμην την τιμην
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.
8 μηδενι μηδεν οφειλετε ει μη το αγαπαν αλληλους ο γαρ αγαπων τον ετερον νομον πεπληρωκεν
Owe nothing to anyone except love; for they who love their neighbor have satisfied the Law.
9 το γαρ ου μοιχευσεις ου φονευσεις ου κλεψεις ου ψευδομαρτυρησεις ουκ επιθυμησεις και ει τις ετερα εντολη εν τουτω τω λογω ανακεφαλαιουται εν τω αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως εαυτον
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.’
10 η αγαπη τω πλησιον κακον ουκ εργαζεται πληρωμα ουν νομου η αγαπη
Love never wrongs a neighbor. Therefore love fully satisfies the Law.
11 και τουτο ειδοτες τον καιρον οτι ωρα ημας ηδη εξ υπνου εγερθηναι νυν γαρ εγγυτερον ημων η σωτηρια η οτε επιστευσαμεν
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.
12 η νυξ προεκοψεν η δε ημερα ηγγικεν αποθωμεθα ουν τα εργα του σκοτους και ενδυσωμεθα τα οπλα του φωτος
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.
13 ως εν ημερα ευσχημονως περιπατησωμεν μη κωμοις και μεθαις μη κοιταις και ασελγειαις μη εριδι και ζηλω
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.
14 αλλ ενδυσασθε τον κυριον ιησουν χριστον και της σαρκος προνοιαν μη ποιεισθε εις επιθυμιας
No! Arm yourselves with the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and spend no thought on your earthly nature, to satisfy its cravings.
