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 ^(A)will receive his approval,

25 “If there is a ^(A)dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, ^(B)acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty,

Submission to Authority

^13 (A)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,^[a] whether it be to the emperor^[b] as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him ^(B)to punish those who do evil and ^(C)to praise those who do good.

⁴ for ^(A)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, ^(B)an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

¹⁸ Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

⁵ There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were ^(C)an error proceeding from the ruler: ^6 (D)folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.

¹³ Now ^(A)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14 (B)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(C)Have no fear of them, ^(D)nor be troubled,