Romans 13:1-14
13 Let every soul* be in subjection+ to the superior authorities,+ for there is no authority+ except by God;+ the existing authorities stand placed in their relative+ positions* by God.+
2 Therefore he who opposes* the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves.+
3 For those ruling are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad.+ Do you, then, want to have no fear of the authority? Keep doing good,+ and you will have praise from it;*
4 for it* is God’s minister* to you for your good.+ But if you are doing what is bad,+ be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is God’s minister, an avenger+ to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad.
5 There is therefore compelling reason* for YOU people to be in subjection, not only on account of that wrath but also on account of [YOUR] conscience.+
6 For that is why YOU are also paying taxes; for they are God’s public servants*+ constantly serving this very purpose.*
7 Render* to all their dues, to him who [calls for] the tax, the tax;+ to him who [calls for] the tribute, the tribute; to him who [calls for] fear, such fear;+ to him who [calls for] honor, such honor.+
8 Do not YOU people be owing anybody a single thing,+ except to love one another;+ for he that loves his fellowman* has fulfilled [the] law.+
9 For the [law code], “You must not commit adultery,*+ You must not murder,+ You must not steal,+ You must not covet,”+ and whatever other commandment there is, is summed up in this word, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”+
10 Love+ does not work evil to one’s neighbor;+ therefore love is the law’s+ fulfillment.
11 [Do] this, too, because YOU people know the season,* that it is already the hour for YOU to awake+ from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became believers.+
12 The night is well along; the day+ has drawn near. Let us therefore put off the works belonging to darkness+ and let us put on the weapons+ of the light.
13 As in the daytime let us walk decently,+ not in revelries and drunken bouts,+ not in illicit intercourse and loose conduct,*+ not in strife+ and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord* Jesus Christ,+ and do not be planning ahead for the desires of the flesh.+
Footnotes
^ Or, “every living person.” See App 4A.
^ “Stand placed in their relative positions.” Lit., “having been set in order they are.”
^ Lit., “the (one) setting self against.”
^ Or, “her,” that is, the “authority.”
^ Lit., “servant.”
^ Or, “she,” that is, the “authority.”
^ Lit., “necessity.”
^ “Public servants.” Gr., lei·tour·goiʹ.
^ Or, “devoting themselves to this very thing.”
^ Lit., “Give you back.”
^ Or, “loves the other,” that is, the other of two.
^ Or, “You must not commit marital sexual unfaithfulness.” Gr., Ou moi·kheuʹseis; Lat., non a·dul·te·raʹbis; J22(Heb.), loʼ tin·ʼaphʹ. See Eze 16:32 ftn.
^ Lit., “appointed time.” Gr., kai·ronʹ.
^ “Loose conduct.” Gr., a·sel·geiʹais; Lat., in·pu·di·ciʹti·is; J17,22(Heb.), zim·mahʹ. See Ga 5:19 ftn, “Conduct.” Compare Le 18:17 ftn.
^ Or, “imitate the manners of the Lord.”
