13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
13:2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
13:3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
13:4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
13:5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
13:6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
13:7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
13:9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
13:10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
13:11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
13:1 Let every person be subject to the authorities over him, for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are ordained by God.
13:2 So then he who resists the authority opposes God s ordination, and those who oppose will receive judgment to themselves.
13:3 For the rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you want to have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from him;
13:4 For he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, fear; he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who practices evil.
13:5 Therefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.
13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes; for they are God s officers, attending constantly to this very thing.
13:7 Render to all the things due: tax to whom tax is due, custom to whom custom is due, fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due.
13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves the other has fulfilled the law.
13:9 For, You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
13:10 Love does not work evil to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
13:11 And this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to be raised from sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
13:12 The night is far advanced, and the day has drawn near. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the weapons of light.
13:13 Let us walk becomingly as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in fornication and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy.
13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.
