Romans 13
Wycliffe Bible
13 Every soul be subject to higher powers. For there is no power but of God, and those things that be of God, be ordained.
2 Therefore he that against-standeth power, against-standeth the ordinance of God; and they that against-stand, get to themselves damnation.
3 For princes be not to the dread of good work, but of evil. But wilt thou, that thou dread not power? Do thou good thing, and thou shalt have praising of it [Soothly wilt thou not dread power? Do good, and thou shalt have praising of it];
4 for he is the minister of God to thee into good. But if thou doest evil, dread thou [Soothly, if thou doest evil, dread]; for not without cause he beareth the sword, for he is the minister of God, venger into wrath to him that doeth evil.
5 And therefore by need be ye subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience.
6 For therefore [and] ye give tributes, they be the ministers of God, and serve for this same thing [for this same thing serving].
7 Therefore yield ye to all men debts, to whom tribute, tribute, to whom toll, toll [to whom toll, or custom for things borne about, toll, or such custom], to whom dread, dread, to whom honour, honour.
8 To no man owe ye any thing, but that ye love together. For he that loveth his neighbour, hath fulfilled the law.
9 For, Thou shalt do no lechery [Thou shalt not do lechery], Thou shalt not slay, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not say false witnessing, Thou shalt not covet the thing of thy neighbour, and if there be any other commandment, it is enstored, or included [it is enstored, or enclosed], in this word, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 The love of thy neighbour worketh not evil; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And we know this time, that the hour is now, that we rise from sleep; for now is our health near(er), than when we believed.[a]
12 The night went before, but the day hath approached [forsooth the day hath nighed]. Therefore cast we away the works of darknesses, and be we clothed in the armours of light [and be we clothed with the armours of light].
13 As in [the] day wander we honestly, not in superfluous feasts [not in oft eatings] and drunkennesses, not in beds [not in bedchambers] and unchastities, not in strife and in envy;
14 but be ye clothed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and do ye not the busyness of flesh in desires [and do ye not the care, or busyness, of flesh in desires].
Footnotes
- Romans 13:11 And we knowing this time, that the hour is now, us to rise of sleep; soothly now our health is nearer, than when we believed.
Romans 13
New Matthew Bible
The obedience of people to governing powers. Love fulfils the law. It is now no time to follow the works of darkness.
13 Let every soul submit himself to the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power except from God. The powers that be are ordained by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority, resists the ordinance of God. And those who resist will bring retribution on themselves, 3 for rulers and authorities are not to be feared for good works, but for bad. Would you be without fear of the authority? Do well then, and you will be commended by the same. 4 For he is the minister of God for your welfare. But if you do wrong, then fear. For he does not bear a sword for nothing, but is the minister of God to take vengeance on those who do evil. 5 Therefore you must obey – not for fear of vengeance only, but also because of conscience. 6 And also for this reason, pay tribute. For the Roman authorities are God’s ministers, serving for the same purpose.
7 Give to all persons therefore that which is due to them: tribute to whom tribute belongs, custom to whom custom is due, fear to whom fear belongs, honour to whom honour pertains. 8 Owe nothing to anyone, but to love one another. For he who loves another, fulfils the law. 9 For these commandments – you shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet, and so forth (if there be any other commandment) – are all comprehended in this saying: Love your neighbour as yourself. 10 Love does no harm to his neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 This also we know – I mean the season, that it is time now to awake out of sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night has passed, and the day has come near. Let us therefore cast away the deeds of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honourably, as in the daylight: not in revelry and drunkenness, nor in sleeping around and wantonness, nor in strife and envying, 14 but put on the Lord Jesus Christ. And do not make provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts.
Romans 13
1599 Geneva Bible
13 1 He willeth that we submit ourselves to Magistrates: 8 To love our neighbor: 13 To love uprightly, 14 and to put on Christ.
1 Let (A)[a]every [b]soul be subject unto the higher [c]powers: [d]for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be, are [e]ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receive to themselves condemnation.
3 [f]For Magistrates are not to be feared for good works, but for evil. [g]Wilt thou then be without fear of the power? do well: so shalt thou have praise of the same.
4 For he is the minister of God for thy wealth: [h]but if thou do evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword for nought: for he is the minister of God to [i]take vengeance on him that doeth evil.
5 [j]Wherefore ye must be subject, not because of wrath only, but [k]also for conscience sake.
6 [l]For, for this cause ye pay also tribute: for they are God’s ministers, applying themselves for the same thing.
7 (B)Give to all men therefore their duty: tribute, to whom ye owe tribute: custom, to whom custom: fear, to whom [m]fear: honor, to whom ye owe [n]honor.
8 [o]Owe nothing to any man, but to love one another: [p]for he that loveth another, hath fulfilled the [q]Law.
9 For this, (C)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 [r]briefly comprehended in this saying, even in this, (D)Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
10 Love doeth not evil to his neighbor: therefore is love the (E)fulfilling of the Law.
11 [s]And that, considering the season, that it is now time that we should arise from sleep: for now is our salvation nearer, than when we believed it.
12 The night is past, and the day is [t]at hand, let us therefore cast away the works [u]of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light,
13 So that we walk honestly, as in the day: not in (F)gluttony, and drunkenness, neither in chambering and wantonness, nor in strife and envying.
14 (G)But [v]put ye on the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and take no thought for the flesh, to fulfill the lust of it.
Footnotes
- Romans 13:1 Now he showeth severally, what subjects owe to their Magistrates, to wit, obedience: From which he showeth that no man is free: and in such sort that it is not only due to the highest Magistrate himself, but also even to the basest, which hath any office under him.
- Romans 13:1 Yea, though an Apostle, though an Evangelist, though a Prophet: Chrysostom. Therefore the tyranny of the Pope over all kingdoms must down to the ground.
- Romans 13:1 A reason taken of the nature of the thing itself: For to what purpose are they placed in higher degree, but that the inferior should be subject unto them?
- Romans 13:1 Another argument of great force: Because God is author of this order: so that such as are rebels ought to know, that they make war with God himself: wherefore they cannot but purchase to themselves great misery and calamity.
- Romans 13:1 Be distributed: for some are greater, some smaller.
- Romans 13:3 The third argument taken from the end wherefore they were made, which is most profitable: for that God by this means preserveth the good and bridleth the wicked: by which words the Magistrates themselves are put in mind of that duty which they owe to their subjects.
- Romans 13:3 An excellent way to bear this yoke, not only without grief, but also with great profit.
- Romans 13:4 God hath armed the Magistrate even with a revenging sword.
- Romans 13:4 By whom God revengeth the wicked.
- Romans 13:5 The conclusion: We must obey the magistrate, not only for fear of punishment, but much more because that (although the Magistrate have no power over the conscience of man, yet seeing he is God’s minister) he cannot be resisteth by any good conscience.
- Romans 13:5 So far as lawfully we may: for if unlawful things be commanded us, we must answer as Peter teacheth us, It is better to obey God than men.
- Romans 13:6 He reckoneth up the chiefest things wherein consisteth the obedience of subjects.
- Romans 13:7 Obedience, and that from the heart.
- Romans 13:7 Reverence, (which as reason is) we must give to the Magistrate.
- Romans 13:8 He showeth how very few judgments need to be executed, to wit, if we so order our life, as no man may justly require anything of us, besides that only that we owe one to another, by the perpetual law of charity.
- Romans 13:8 He commendeth charity, as an abridgement of the whole Law.
- Romans 13:8 He hath not only done one commandment, but performed generally that which the Law commandeth.
- Romans 13:9 For the whole Law commandeth nothing else, but that we love God and our neighbor. But seeing Paul speaketh here of the duties we owe one to another, we must restrain this word, Law to the second Table.
- Romans 13:11 An application taken of the circumstance of the time: which also itself putteth us in mind of our duty, seeing that this remaineth after that the darkness of ignorance and wicked affections by the knowledge of God’s truth be driven out of us, that we order our life according to that certain and sure rule of all righteousness and honesty, being fully grounded upon the virtue of the Spirit of Christ.
- Romans 13:12 In other places we are said to be in the light, but yet so, that it appeareth not as yet what we are, for as yet we see but as it were in the twilight.
- Romans 13:12 That kind of life, which they lead, that flee the light.
- Romans 13:14 To put on Christ, is to possess Christ, to have him in us, and us in him.
Romans 13
Authorized (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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.