Romans 13

1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.

Let every soul be obedient to higher authorities, for there is no authority unless it comes from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

2 Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.

Therefore he who resists that authority opposes the command of God; and those who oppose it will receive judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority,

For rulers are not a terror to good deeds, but to evil deeds. Do you desire to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will receive his approval.

4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

For he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not carry the sword for no reason. For he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath on the one who does evil.

5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

Therefore you must obey, not only because of the wrath, but also because of conscience.

6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing.

Because of this you pay taxes also. For authorities are servants of God, who attend to this very thing continually.

7 Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Pay to everyone what is owed to them. Tax to whom tax is due, toll to whom toll is due; fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due.

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The commandments: “Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not covet,” and if there is any other commandment also, it is summed up in this sentence: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Love does not harm one's neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.

Because of this, you know the time, that it is already time for you to awake out of sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.

The night has advanced, and the day has come near. Let us therefore put aside the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

13 Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

Let us walk appropriately, as in the day, not in drunken celebrations or drunkenness; and let us not walk in sexual immorality or in uncontrolled lust, and not in strife or jealousy.

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its lusts.