1Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been ordained by God.
2So that the one who opposes the authority has resisted the ordinance of God; and those who have resisted will incur judgment on themselves.
3For rulers are not a terror to the good work but to the evil. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from it;
4for it is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword in vain, for it is God’s servant, an avenger for wrath on the one who practices evil.
5Therefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.
6For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers, attending continually to this very thing.
7Render to all what is owed: tax to whom tax is due, revenue to whom revenue, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves the other has fulfilled the law.
9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, in: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10Love does no evil to the neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11And this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to be awakened from sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12The night has advanced, and the day has drawn near. Let us therefore lay aside the works of darkness and put on the weapons of light.
13Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy;
14but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
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