Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God.2 And so, whoever resists authority, resists what has been ordained by God. And those who resist are acquiring damnation for themselves.3 For leaders are not a source of fear to those who work good, but to those who work evil. And would you prefer not to be afraid of authority? Then do what is good, and you shall have praise from them.4 For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil.5 For this reason, it is necessary to be subject, not solely because of wrath, but also because of conscience.6 Therefore, you must also offer tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving him in this.7 Therefore, render to all whatever is owed. Taxes, to whom taxes is due; revenue, to whom revenue is due; fear, to whom fear is due; honor, to whom honor is due.8 You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.9 For example: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not speak false testimony. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.10 The love of neighbor does no harm. Therefore, love is the plenitude of the law.11 And we know the present time, that now is the hour for us to rise up from sleep. For already our salvation is closer than when we first believed.12 The night has passed, and the day draws near. Therefore, let us cast aside the works of darkness, and be clothed with the armor of light.13 Let us walk honestly, as in the daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and sexual immorality, not in contention and envy.14 Instead, be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in its 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