Romanos 13
1 TODA alma se someta á las potestades superiores; porque no hay potestad sino de Dios; y las que son, de Dios son ordenadas.2 Asi que, el que se opone á la potestad, á la ordenación de Dios resiste: y los que resisten, ellos mismos ganan condenación para sí.3 Porque los magistrados no son para temor al que bien hace, sino al malo. ¿Quieres pues no temer la potestad? haz lo bueno, y tendrás alabanza de ella;4 Porque es ministro de Dios para tu bien. Mas si hicieres lo malo, teme: porque no en vano lleva el cuchillo; porque es ministro de Dios, vengador para castigo al que hace lo malo.5 Por lo cual es necesario que le estéis sujetos, no solamente por la ira, mas aun por la conciencia.6 Porque por esto pagáis también los tributos; porque son ministros de Dios que sirven á esto mismo.
7 Pagad á todos lo que debéis: al que tributo, tributo; al que pecho, pecho; al que temor, temor; al que honra, honra.
8 No debáis á nadie nada, sino amaros unos á otros; porque el que ama al prójimo, cumplió la ley.
9 Porque: No adulterarás; no matarás; no hurtarás; no dirás falso testimonio; no codiciarás: y si hay algún otro mandamiento, en esta sentencia se comprende sumariamente: Amarás á tu prójimo como á ti mismo.
10 La caridad no hace mal al prójimo: así que, el cumplimento de la ley es la caridad.
11 Y esto, conociendo el tiempo, que es ya hora de levantarnos del sueño; porque ahora nos está más cerca nuestra salud que cuando creímos.
12 La noche ha pasado, y ha llegado el día: echemos, pues, las obras de las tinieblas, y vistámonos las armas de luz,
13 Andemos como de día, honestamente: no en glotonerías y borracheras, no en lechos y disoluciones, no en pedencias y envidia:
14 Mas vestíos del Señor Jesucristo, y no hagáis caso de la carne en sus deseos.
ROMANS 13
Obey Rulers
1 t Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power. 2 People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished. 3 Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it.
4 After all, they are God's servants, and it is their duty to help you.
If you do something wrong, you ought to be afraid, because these rulers have the right to punish you. They are God's servants who punish criminals to show how angry God is.
5 But you should obey the rulers because you know it is the right thing to do, and not just because of God's anger.
6 t You must also pay your taxes. The authorities are God's servants, and it is their duty to take care of these matters.
7 Pay all that you owe, whether it is taxes and fees or respect and honor.Love
8 Let love be your only debt! If you love others, you have done all that the Law demands. 9 t In the Law there are many commands, such as, “Be faithful in marriage. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not want what belongs to others.” But all of these are summed up in the command that says, “Love others as much as you love yourself.”
10 No one who loves others will harm them. So love is all that the Law demands.The Day //When Christ Returns
11 You know what sort of times we live in, and so you should live properly. It is time to wake up. You know that the day when we will be saved is nearer now than when we first put our faith in the Lord. 12 Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light. 13 So behave properly, as people do in the day. Don't go to wild parties or get drunk or be vulgar or indecent. Don't quarrel or be jealous. 14 Let the Lord Jesus Christ be as near to you as the clothes you wear. Then you won't try to satisfy your selfish desires.