Romans 12:9-13:7

New King James Version

Behave Like a Christian

⁹^(A)Let love be without hypocrisy. ^(B)Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ¹⁰^(C)Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, ^(D)in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹²^(E)rejoicing in hope, ^(F)patient^[a] in tribulation, ^(G)continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³^(H)distributing to the needs of the saints, ^(I)given^[b] to hospitality.

¹⁴^(J)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵^(K)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶^(L)Be of the same mind toward one another. ^(M)Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

¹⁷^(N)Repay no one evil for evil. ^(O)Have^[c] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸If it is possible, as much as depends on you, ^(P)live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹Beloved, ^(Q)do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ^(R)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰Therefore

^(S)“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but ^(T)overcome evil with good.

Submit to Government

13 Let every soul be ^(U)subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ²Therefore whoever resists ^(V)the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will ^[d]bring judgment on themselves. ³For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? ^(W)Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. ⁴For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. ⁵Therefore ^(X)you must be subject, not only because of wrath ^(Y)but also for conscience’ sake. ⁶For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. ⁷^(Z)Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.