Romans 13

1 Every person should place themselves under the authority of the government. There isn’t any authority unless it comes from God, and the authorities that are there have been put in place by God.2 So anyone who opposes the authority is standing against what God has established. People who take this kind of stand will get punished.3 The authorities don’t frighten people who are doing the right thing. Rather, they frighten people who are doing wrong. Would you rather not be afraid of authority? Do what’s right, and you will receive its approval.4 It is God’s servant given for your benefit. But if you do what’s wrong, be afraid because it doesn’t have weapons to enforce the law for nothing. It is God’s servant put in place to carry out his punishment on those who do what is wrong.5 That is why it is necessary to place yourself under the government’s authority, not only to avoid God’s punishment but also for the sake of your conscience.6 You should also pay taxes for the same reason, because the authorities are God’s assistants, concerned with this very thing.

7 So pay everyone what you owe them. Pay the taxes you owe, pay the duties you are charged, give respect to those you should respect, and honor those you should honor.
8 Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law.9 The commandments, Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t desire what others have, t and any other commandments, are all summed up in one word: You must love your neighbor as yourself. t

10 Love doesn’t do anything wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is what fulfills the Law.

The day is near

11 As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith.12 The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light.13 Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession.

14 Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.

Romans 13

Submission to Civil Government

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment,t and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.2 So the person who resists such authorityt resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment3 (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation,4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer.5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authoritiest but also because of your conscience.t6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authoritiest are God’s servants devoted to governing.t

7 Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Exhortation to Love Neighbors

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.9 For the commandments,t “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,”s (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”s

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Motivation to Godly Conduct

11 And do thist because we knowt the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers.12 The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.13 Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.

14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.t