Romans 13

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

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

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

⁴ for he is a minister 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 minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

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

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

⁷ Give therefore to everyone their due: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

⁸ 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 if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

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

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

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

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

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