Romans 13
New American Standard Bible
Be Subject to Government
13 Every [a](A)person is to be (B)subject to the governing authorities. For (C)there is no authority except [b]from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore [c]whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For (D)rulers are not a cause of fear for [d]good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an (E)avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also (F)for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 (G)Pay to all what is due them: (H)tax to whom tax is due; (I)custom to whom custom; [e]respect to whom [f]respect; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for (J)the one who loves [g]his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. 9 For this, “(K)You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “(L)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love [h]does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore (M)love is the fulfillment of the Law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is (N)already the hour for you to (O)awaken from sleep; for now [i]salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. 12 (P)The night is almost gone, and (Q)the day is near. Therefore let’s rid ourselves of (R)the deeds of darkness and put on (S)the armor of light. 13 Let’s [j](T)behave properly as in the day, (U)not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But (V)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh (W)in regard to its lusts.
Footnotes
- Romans 13:1 Or soul
- Romans 13:1 Lit by
- Romans 13:2 Lit the one who
- Romans 13:3 Lit good work
- Romans 13:7 I.e., for authority; lit fear
- Romans 13:7 I.e., for authority; lit fear
- Romans 13:8 Lit the other
- Romans 13:10 Lit works no evil
- Romans 13:11 Or our salvation is nearer than when
- Romans 13:13 Lit walk
Romans 13
International Standard Version
Obey Your Government
13 Every person must be subject to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by God’s permission.[a] The existing authorities have been established by God, 2 so that whoever resists the authorities opposes what God has established, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For the authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities? Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval. 4 For they are God’s servants, working for your good.
But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God’s servants to administer punishment[b] to anyone who does wrong. 5 Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities,[c] not only for the sake of God’s[d] punishment,[e] but also for the sake of your own conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes. For rulers[f] are God’s servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work.[g] 7 Pay everyone whatever you owe them—taxes to whom taxes are due, tolls to whom tolls are due, fear[h] to whom fear[i] is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Love One Another
8 Do not owe anyone anything—except to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law. 9 For the commandments, “You must not commit adultery; you must not murder; you must not steal; you must not covet,”[j] and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”[k] 10 Love never does anything that is harmful to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law.
Live in the Light of the Messiah’s Return
11 This is necessary because you know the times—it’s already time for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we became believers. 12 The night is almost over, and the day is near. Let’s therefore put aside the actions of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let’s behave decently, as people who live in the light of day.[l] No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, quarreling, or jealousy! 14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[m] and do not obey your flesh and its desires.
Footnotes
- Romans 13:1 Lit. except by God
- Romans 13:4 Lit. wrath
- Romans 13:5 The Gk. lacks to the authorities
- Romans 13:5 The Gk. lacks God’s
- Romans 13:5 Lit. wrath
- Romans 13:6 Lit. they
- Romans 13:6 Lit. to this very thing
- Romans 13:7 Or respect
- Romans 13:7 Or respect
- Romans 13:9 Cf. Exod 20:13-15, 17; Deut 5:17-19, 21
- Romans 13:9 Lev 19:18
- Romans 13:13 Lit. as in the day
- Romans 13:14 Or Christ
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