Submit to Government

13 Let every soul be ^(A)subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

² Therefore whoever resists ^(A)the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will ^[a]bring judgment on themselves.

³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? ^(A)Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

⁴ For 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.

⁵ Therefore ^(A)you must be subject, not only because of wrath ^(B)but also for conscience’ sake.

⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

^7 (A)Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.