Romans 13

¹Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, ²so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God’s ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment. ³For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it, ⁴for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil. ⁵Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience, ⁶for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually.

⁷Render, therefore, to all their dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honour, the honour. ⁸To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other—law he hath fulfilled, ⁹for, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false testimony, Thou shalt not covet;’ and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;’ ¹⁰the love to the neighbour doth work no ill; the love, therefore, is the fulness of law.

¹¹And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already is to be aroused out of sleep, for now nearer is our salvation than when we did believe; ¹²the night did advance, and the day came nigh; let us lay aside, therefore, the works of the darkness, and let us put on the armour of the light; ¹³as in day-time, let us walk becomingly; not in revellings and drunkennesses, not in chamberings and lasciviousnesses, not in strife and emulation; ¹⁴but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the flesh take no forethought—for desires.

Chapter 14