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Romans 13-14
English Standard Version
Romans 13-14
English Standard Version
Submission to the Authorities
13 Let every person (A)be subject to the governing authorities. For (B)there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you (C)will receive his approval, 4 for (D)he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, (E)an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also (F)for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 (G)Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Fulfilling the Law Through Love
8 (H)Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for (I)the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, (J)“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: (K)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore (L)love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you (M)to wake from sleep. (N)For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 (O)The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us (P)cast off (Q)the works of darkness and (R)put on the armor of light. 13 (S)Let us walk properly as in the daytime, (T)not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, (U)not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But (V)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, (W)to gratify its desires.
Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another
14 As for (X)the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 (Y)One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and (Z)let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 (AA)Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master[a] that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 (AB)One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. (AC)Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since (AD)he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For (AE)none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, (AF)whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ (AG)died and lived again, that he might be Lord both (AH)of the dead and of the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For (AI)we will all stand before (AJ)the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,
(AK)“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess[b] to God.”
12 So then (AL)each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Do Not Cause Another to Stumble
13 (AM)Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide (AN)never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus (AO)that nothing is unclean in itself, (AP)but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, (AQ)you are no longer walking in love. (AR)By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 (AS)So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 (AT)For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but (AU)of righteousness and (AV)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is (AW)acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us (AX)pursue what makes for peace and for (AY)mutual upbuilding.
20 (AZ)Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. (BA)Everything is indeed clean, but (BB)it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 (BC)It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.[c] 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. (BD)Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.[d]
Footnotes
- Romans 14:4 Or lord
- Romans 14:11 Or shall give praise
- Romans 14:21 Some manuscripts add or be hindered or be weakened
- Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts insert here 16:25–27
Romans 13-14
New International Version
Romans 13-14
New International Version
Submission to Governing Authorities
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A) for there is no authority except that which God has established.(B) The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,(C) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.(D) 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.(E) 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.(F)
6 This is also why you pay taxes,(G) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;(H) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Love Fulfills the Law
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.(I) 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a](J) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up(K) in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](L) 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.(M)
The Day Is Near
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come(N) for you to wake up from your slumber,(O) because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.(P) So let us put aside the deeds of darkness(Q) and put on the armor(R) of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness,(S) not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.(T) 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,(U) and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[c](V)
The Weak and the Strong
14 Accept the one whose faith is weak,(W) without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.(X) 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt(Y) the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge(Z) the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?(AA) To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another;(AB) another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God;(AC) and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone,(AD) and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.(AE) 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life(AF) so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.(AG)
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[d]? Or why do you treat them with contempt?(AH) For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.(AI) 11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’(AJ) says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[e](AK)
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.(AL)
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment(AM) on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.(AN) 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.(AO) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.(AP) 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.(AQ) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.(AR) 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(AS) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(AT) but of righteousness, peace(AU) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(AV) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(AW)
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(AX) and to mutual edification.(AY) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(AZ) All food is clean,(BA) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(BB) 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.(BC)
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn(BD) himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts(BE) is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[f]
Footnotes
- Romans 13:9 Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deut. 5:17-19,21
- Romans 13:9 Lev. 19:18
- Romans 13:14 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
- Romans 14:10 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verses 13, 15 and 21.
- Romans 14:11 Isaiah 45:23
- Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts place 16:25-27 here; others after 15:33.
Romans 13-14
King James Version
Romans 13-14
King James Version
13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
14 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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