1 Be Subject to Government Every 13:1 Or soul person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except 13:1 Lit by from God, and those which exist have been appointed by God.
2 Therefore 13:2 Lit he who whoever resists that authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
3 For rulers are nota cause offear for 13:3 Lit good work good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of that authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same;
4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword in vain, for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of that wrath, but also because of conscience.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, forrulersare servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom taxis due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves 13:8Lit the other his neighbor has fulfilledthelaw.
9 For this, “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, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10 Love does not work evil against a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment oftheLaw.
11 Anddothis, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now 13:11 Or our salvation is nearer than when salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard toitslusts.