Romans 13

Be Subject to Government

1Every 12person is to be in 3subjection to the governing authorities. For 4there is no authority except 5from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2Therefore 6whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3For 7rulers are not a cause of fear for 8good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4for 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 for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an 9avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also 10for conscience’ sake. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 711Render to all what is due them: 12tax to whom tax is due; 13custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

8Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for 14he who loves 15his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9For this, “16You 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 saying, “17You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love 18does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore 19love is the fulfillment of the law.

11Do this, knowing the time, that it is 20already the hour for you to 21awaken from sleep; for now 22salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 1223The night is almost gone, and 24the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside 25the deeds of darkness and put on 26the armor of light. 13Let us 2728behave properly as in the day, 29not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14But 30put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh 31in regard to its lusts.