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
Evangelical Heritage Version
Governments Are Established by God
13 Everyone must submit to the governing authorities. For no authority exists except by God, and the authorities that do exist have been established by God. 2 Therefore the one who rebels against the authority is opposing God’s institution, and those who oppose will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to evil. Would you like to have no fear of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will receive praise from him, 4 because he is God’s servant for your benefit. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because he does not carry the sword without reason. He is God’s servant, a punisher to bring wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore it is necessary to submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience.
6 For this reason you also pay taxes, because the authorities are God’s ministers, who are employed to do this very thing. 7 Pay what you owe to all of them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, and honor to whom honor is owed.
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—do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal,[a] do not covet[b] (and if there is any other commandment)—are summed up in this statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[c] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor, so love is the fulfillment of the law.
The End of the World Is Approaching
11 And do this since you understand the present time. It is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost over, and the day is drawing near. So let us put away the deeds of darkness and put on the weapons of light. 13 Let us walk decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual sin and wild living, not in strife and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give any thought to satisfying the desires of your sinful flesh.
Footnotes
- Romans 13:9 Some witnesses to the text add do not give false testimony.
- Romans 13:9 Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21
- Romans 13:9 Leviticus 19:18
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.