14 Bless those who persecute you;(A) bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.(B) 16 Live in harmony with one another.(C) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.(D)

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(E) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.(F) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(G) 19 Do not take revenge,(H) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[b](I) says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[c](J)

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(K) for there is no authority except that which God has established.(L) The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,(M) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 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.(N) 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.(O) Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.(P)

This is also why you pay taxes,(Q) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;(R) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love Fulfills the Law

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.(S) The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[d](T) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up(U) in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[e](V) 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.(W)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
  2. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
  3. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22
  4. Romans 13:9 Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deut. 5:17-19,21
  5. Romans 13:9 Lev. 19:18

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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.

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

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:

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.

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

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.