Romans 12:9-13:11

New American Standard Bible

⁹^[a]^(A)Love must be free of hypocrisy. ^(B)Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be ^(C)devoted to one another in brotherly love; ^[b]give preference to one another ^(D)in honor, ¹¹not lagging behind in diligence, ^(E)fervent in spirit, ^(F)serving the Lord; ¹²^(G)rejoicing in hope, ^(H)persevering in tribulation, ^(I)devoted to prayer, ¹³^(J)contributing to the needs of the ^[c]saints, ^[d]^(K)practicing hospitality.

¹⁴^(L)Bless those who persecute ^[e]you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵^(M)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶^(N)Be of the same mind toward one another; ^(O)do not be ^[f]haughty in mind, but ^[g]associate with the lowly. ^(P)Do not be wise in your own estimation. ¹⁷^(Q)Never repay evil for evil to anyone. ^[h]^(R)Respect what is right in the sight of all people. ¹⁸If possible, ^(S)so far as it depends on you, ^(T)be at peace with all people. ¹⁹^(U)Never take your own revenge, beloved, but ^[i]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “^(V)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰“^(W)But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Be Subject to Government

13 Every ^[j]^(X)person is to be ^(Y)subject to the governing authorities. For ^(Z)there is no authority except ^[k]from God, and those which exist are established by God. ²Therefore ^[l]whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. ³For ^(AA)rulers are not a cause of fear for ^[m]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; ⁴for 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 ^(AB)avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. ⁵Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also ^(AC)for the sake of conscience. ⁶For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. ⁷^(AD)Pay to all what is due them: ^(AE)tax to whom tax is due; ^(AF)custom to whom custom; ^[n]respect to whom ^[o]respect; honor to whom honor.

⁸Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for ^(AG)the one who loves ^[p]his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. ⁹For this, “^(AH)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, “^(AI)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰Love ^[q]does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore ^(AJ)love is the fulfillment of the Law.

¹¹Do this, knowing the time, that it is ^(AK)already the hour for you to ^(AL)awaken from sleep; for now ^[r]salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.