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
Romans 13
American Standard Version
13 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: 4 for [a]he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for [b]he beareth not the sword in vain: for [c]he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth [d]his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, [e]Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.
11 And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is [f]salvation nearer to us than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Footnotes
- Romans 13:4 Or, it
- Romans 13:4 Or, it
- Romans 13:4 Or, it
- Romans 13:8 Greek the other. Compare 1 Cor. 6:1; 10:24; Gal. 6:4.
- Romans 13:9 Ex. 20:13ff; Dt. 5:17ff.
- Romans 13:11 Or, our salvation nearer than when etc.
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